Washington: Democratic lawmakers have sharply criticised former President Donald Trump’s handling of relations with India, even as his administration announced the resumption of trade talks with New Delhi.

Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, said on the House floor Wednesday that she was “sounding the alarm about the deterioration of our strategic partnership with India at the hands of Donald Trump.”

She accused Trump of pursuing a “reckless foreign policy style” that had “unravelled decades of progress” with India in “mere months.”

“This partnership is too important to be sacrificed by Trump’s ego and Republican complicity. Trump must reverse course, make a deal and fix the damage that he has caused. He needs to get his act together on behalf of this country and our relationship with India,” Dove said, also faulting Republicans for “refusing to bat for the US-India relationship when it really matters.”

Her remarks came a day after Trump announced on Truth Social that his administration had resumed trade negotiations with India. “I am pleased to announce that India and the United States of America are continuing negotiations to address the trade barriers between our two nations,” he wrote, describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “very good friend” and saying he looked forward to speaking with him “in the upcoming weeks.”

PM Modi responded on X, affirming the strength of bilateral ties: “India and the US are close friends and natural partners. I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership.”

After weeks of relative silence, several Democrats are now openly voicing concern over Trump’s approach. At the Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said recent tensions had undone years of diplomatic efforts. IANS