India, US hold key talks to advance defence, tech, trade ties

The United States and India have held a new round of high-level consultations aimed at accelerating progress across defence, technology, energy and trade cooperation. US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker met Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in New Delhi as part of her five-day visit focused on strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

According to the US Embassy, Hooker reiterated Washington’s intent to translate the vision laid out by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Modi’s February visit to Washington into concrete outcomes. She highlighted priority areas including defence collaboration, energy security, advanced technologies, space cooperation and efforts to build resilient and trusted supply chains. The embassy noted that deeper US-India engagement supports American innovation and jobs while reinforcing India’s long-term growth as a global technology hub.

The Ministry of External Affairs said the consultations provided a broad review of ongoing initiatives under existing bilateral frameworks. Discussions covered trade and investment, civil nuclear cooperation, defence industrial ties, critical minerals, emerging technologies, and progress under the recently launched TRUST (Transforming Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) initiative. TRUST aims to strengthen secure supply chains and expand cooperation in cutting-edge domains such as AI and semiconductors.

Both sides reaffirmed their support for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and exchanged assessments on regional and global developments. The two governments also committed to accelerating implementation of the Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology (COMPACT) agenda, designed to advance cooperation across key pillars of the relationship.

Modi’s February trip yielded a set of ambitious deliverables, including India’s decision to increase imports of US oil, gas and military platforms such as F-35 fighter jets. Both countries also pledged to work toward a major trade agreement and set an aspirational target of USD 500 billion in annual bilateral trade by 2030.

The consultations concluded with agreement to maintain regular engagement and fast-track initiatives that enhance strategic, economic and technological cooperation.