The Indian connections of some U.S. presidential election contenders are unlikely to significantly enhance bilateral relations, according to experts. Despite the shared heritage, bipartisan support for closer ties with India remains primarily driven by strategic interests, particularly in countering China’s assertiveness.
Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance, have seldom visited the birthplaces of their parents, though their success is a source of pride for many Indians.
“From India’s perspective, whether it is Republican or Democrat, that relationship enjoys bipartisan support and should not be affected,” said Harsh Vardhan Shringla, former Indian ambassador to the United States. “It can only benefit. It cannot be affected adversely.”
Given the favorable view of ties with New Delhi across both major parties in Washington, the impact on U.S.-India relations will be minimal, regardless of the election outcome or the candidates’ Indian roots, an Indian government official stated anonymously.
Both President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump have sought to strengthen ties with India, aiming to counterbalance China in the region and reduce New Delhi’s traditional reliance on Russian military equipment.
Role model
Both Kamala Harris and Usha Chilukuri Vance have connections to southern India. Kamala Harris, who has secured the Democratic nomination, is regarded as a role model in her mother’s ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram.
J. Sudhakar, a resident of Thulasendrapuram, praised Kamala Harris’s achievements: “She has proven how young women, previously confined to their homes, can reach such heights, becoming a public figure in the world’s number one country. How big an achievement is that?”
Kamala Harris, who visited the village as a five-year-old, has fondly recalled walks with her grandfather on the beach in Chennai, where her family later lived, about 320 kilometers (200 miles) from Thulasendrapuram. However, she has not returned since becoming U.S. Vice President.
“Residents expected a visit, a statement or at least a mention of the village, but that didn’t happen,” said shopkeeper G. Manikandan. “But we will invite her when she wins and organize a grand celebration and welcome for her.”
The Indian roots of these U.S. political figures are a point of pride, but experts emphasize that the enduring strategic partnership between the two nations is driven by broader geopolitical interests.
