Washington, July 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India has emerged as an important part of the Trump administration’s evolving public diplomacy strategy as the United States seeks to strengthen its outreach across Asia while modernising the way it communicates with international audiences.
Sarah Rogers, President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), outlined the administration’s priorities during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, identifying Asia as a central focus amid growing competition with China in the global information space.
Rogers said the agency, which oversees Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and other US-funded international broadcasters, must adapt to changing patterns of media consumption and expand its presence on digital platforms.
Describing her own public engagement efforts, Rogers said she had shared significant content related to Japan and India on social media, noting that both countries have strong engagement on the platform formerly known as Twitter. She indicated that future public diplomacy initiatives would increasingly target audiences through digital channels.
If confirmed, Rogers said she intends to broaden the agency’s communication strategy by emphasising short-form videos, podcasts, diaspora group chats and other modern digital formats while continuing traditional radio and television broadcasting in regions where those platforms remain effective.
She also said US international broadcasting should prioritise countries where access to independent information is limited, naming Asia, the Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan and Cuba among the agency’s strategic areas of focus.
Rogers told lawmakers that her immediate priorities would include stabilising the agency, strengthening its leadership, modernising operations and restoring research capabilities to better assess audience reach and engagement.
Her remarks come as the United States intensifies efforts to counter China’s influence not only in trade, technology and defence but also in the information and public diplomacy domain.
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