The decision, outlined in a recent policy update, has immediate implications for families, workers, and migrants across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Latin America.

The suspension primarily affects immigrant visas, meaning individuals seeking permanent residence in the United States are the most impacted. This includes family-sponsored visas, diversity visas, and certain employment-based pathways.

Non-immigrant visas such as tourist, student, and short-term work visas may still be issued in some cases, but the overall message is clear that permanent migration routes into the US are being sharply narrowed.

According to the Trump administration, the move is part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls, strengthen national security , and protect domestic employment.

The 75 countries span multiple continents, including Somalia, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Yemen, Colombia, Cuba, Thailand, and Brazil.

“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people. Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused. At the same time, the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” said Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the State Department.

This latest suspension does not exist in isolation. It follows months of restrictive measures , including travel bans, asylum limitations, and tighter vetting procedures, since Donald Trump returned to office.

Whether the policy will face successful legal opposition or be revised under political pressure remains uncertain. For now, millions of people across 75 countries are left waiting, watching, and recalculating their futures.

Full list of affected countries:

Afghanistan , Albania , Algeria , Antigua and Barbuda , Armenia , Azerbaijan , Bahamas , Bangladesh , Barbados , Belarus , Belize , Bhutan , Bosnia , Brazil , Cambodia , Cameroon , Cape Verde , Colombia , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Cuba , Dominica , Egypt , Eritrea , Ethiopia , Fiji , The Gambia , Georgia , Ghana , Grenada , Guatemala , Guinea , Haiti , Iran , Iraq , Ivory Coast , Jamaica , Jordan , Kazakhstan , Kosovo , Kuwait , Kyrgyzstan , Laos , Lebanon , Liberia , Libya , North Macedonia , Moldova , Mongolia , Montenegro , Morocco , Myanmar , Nepal , Nicaragua , Nigeria , Pakistan , Republic of the Congo , Russia , Rwanda , Saint Kitts and Nevis , Saint Lucia , Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , Senegal , Sierra Leone , Somalia , South Sudan , Sudan , Syria , Tanzania , Thailand , Togo , Tunisia , Uganda , Uruguay , Uzbekistan and Yemen .

China currently maintains the world ’s largest active-duty military, with more than 2 million personnel, compared with India’s approximately 1.45 million.

However, analysts at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) note that raw troop numbers tell only part of the story. China has increasingly emphasised modernisation, restructuring its forces to prioritise mobility, joint operations, and advanced technology rather than sheer manpower.

Air power remains one of the clearest areas of divergence. China operates more than 6,000 aircraft and helicopters, giving it a significant advantage over India’s fleet of just under 4,000. This gap has widened as Beijing invests heavily in fifth-generation fighter jets such as the J-20, long-range bombers, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

India, however, slightly exceeds China in the number of tanks and armoured combat vehicles, reflecting its strategic focus on defending long land borders, particularly along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC). Since deadly clashes in 2020, both countries have reinforced troop deployments, infrastructure, and heavy equipment in high-altitude regions, underscoring how unresolved border disputes continue to shape military planning.

China, however, maintains a clear advantage in artillery and naval power. With more than 7,000 artillery systems, including long-range rocket launchers, Beijing has developed significant firepower designed for rapid escalation scenarios.

At sea, China’s navy has become the largest in the world by number of vessels, surpassing 370 ships. This expansion includes aircraft carriers, advanced destroyers, and a growing fleet of submarines, enabling China to project power well beyond its coastline.

India’s navy, while smaller, plays a strategically vital role. Positioned along major global shipping lanes, it serves as a key stabilising force in the Indian Ocean, where a significant share of global trade and energy supplies passes each year.

India’s maritime posture has gained additional importance as China increases its naval presence in the region, prompting closer cooperation between India and partners such as the United States, Japan, and Australia through frameworks like the Quad.

These military comparisons come amid broader shifts in global defence priorities. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reports that China and India rank among the world’s top military spenders, with budgets increasingly directed toward missiles, cyber capabilities, space systems, and artificial intelligence rather than traditional force expansion.