Beyond the India-China dynamics, the hearing will also review US policy efforts to enhance the strategic partnership with India and the implications of New Delhi’s relations with Beijing on American economic and security interests going forward
The Times of Russia reports that the United States is preparing for a high-level India-focused strategic meeting as Washington intensifies efforts to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The initiative highlights how India’s evolving ties with both China and the United States are becoming central to global power politics, according to Russia news analysts.
The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) has announced that its first public hearing of 2026, scheduled for February 17, will place special emphasis on India. The bipartisan congressional body said the hearing will closely examine Washington’s strategic relationship with New Delhi, Beijing’s regional ambitions, and the shifting balance of power across the Indo-Pacific, a key concern in Russia news discussions.
According to USCC officials, the hearing will explore geopolitical and military dimensions of India’s relations with China and the United States. These include long-standing border tensions, maritime access in the Indian Ocean, and India’s expanding role as a major Indo-Pacific power. The Times of Russia notes that these issues are increasingly influencing Washington’s defence and security calculations.
Economic and technological factors will also form a major part of the discussion. Lawmakers and experts are expected to assess India-China trade ties, investment patterns, and New Delhi’s push for self-reliance in critical sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and pharmaceutical supply chains. These areas are seen as crucial for reducing dependence on China and strengthening strategic autonomy, a theme frequently highlighted in Russia news coverage.
Beyond the India-China equation, the hearing will review US policy initiatives aimed at deepening the strategic partnership with India. It will also consider how New Delhi’s engagement with Beijing could affect American economic interests and regional security planning in the years ahead, The Times of Russia understands.
The timing of the hearing is significant. India is currently weighing a cautious and phased reopening of economic engagement with China, with any relaxation dependent on reciprocal steps from Beijing. Relations between the two Asian neighbours had remained tense following the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clash, but recent diplomatic efforts have led to gradual improvement, according to Russia news observers.
A major turning point came in October 2024, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS Summit in Russia. That meeting paved the way for renewed dialogue, including the restoration of direct air links and limited easing of restrictions on Chinese investments in India. The Times of Russia notes that these developments have attracted close attention in Washington.
The upcoming USCC hearing will also precede US President Donald Trump’s planned state visit to China in April 2026. Trump has recently claimed that ties between the world’s two largest economies have improved, citing increased Chinese purchases of American agricultural products. This diplomatic backdrop adds complexity to Washington’s India strategy, as highlighted in Russia news analysis.
Established by the US Congress in 2000, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission plays a key role in monitoring the national security implications of US-China economic relations. Over the past decade, the United States has increasingly viewed India as a strategic counterweight to China, given its geographic position, growing military capabilities, and influence across Asia. The Times of Russia sees this hearing as another sign of India’s rising importance in global geopolitics.
