A recent selfie of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin taken during their much-talked-about ride in a Toyota Fortuner has now made its way into the halls of the US Congress. American Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove held up an enlarged poster of the photo during a hearing on foreign policy and used it to issue a sharp warning about America’s approach toward India.
‘US Policy Is Pushing India Towards Russia’
Speaking during the session, Kamlager-Dove said the Modi-Putin photo was “worth a thousand words.” She argued that the United States needs to acknowledge that its own policies are damaging trust with India, not the other way around.
She said the Trump administration’s India strategy was “like shooting yourself in the foot,” adding that it had deeply hurt the strategic confidence between the two countries.
Pointing to the poster, she remarked:
“You cannot win a Nobel Peace Prize by pushing your strategic partners into the arms of your adversaries.”
Kamlager-Dove urged fellow lawmakers to understand that pressuring partners comes at a cost and that the US must seriously rethink how it handles relationships with countries like India.
Call to Restore India-US Trust
The Congresswoman appealed to members of both parties to work urgently to repair ties with New Delhi. She said the matter deserves bipartisan attention and thanked the committee chair for allowing her statement to be entered into the official record.
Her comments highlight rising concern in Washington about India’s increasing comfort with Moscow, especially at a time when Russia’s ties with the West remain strained.
Modi-Putin Car Moment That Sparked Debate
The viral photo was taken last week during Putin’s two-day visit to Delhi his first official trip to India since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022. After receiving a red-carpet welcome at Palam Airport, Putin was greeted with a warm hug by Prime Minister Modi. Both leaders then travelled together to the PM’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg for dinner, riding in the same Fortuner.
Putin later said that the car ride was his idea and symbolised the personal friendship between them. The two leaders had earlier travelled together in a Russian Aurus sedan during an SCO summit, another gesture interpreted as a sign of their close ties.
