7 months ago
India, US Strengthen Defence and Trade Ties
India and the United States had important meetings to talk about how they can work together better in the military and on trade.
The Indian Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, met with the US Secretary of the Army, Daniel P Driscoll, in New Delhi.
They discussed ways to make their armies work together more and to keep the world safe.
Earlier, the US Secretary of State and India's External Affairs Minister also talked on the phone about trade, nuclear energy, and keeping the Indo-Pacific region safe.
Additionally, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with a group of US lawmakers to discuss trade and security issues.
Both countries have a special partnership to work on defence together, which includes talking regularly, doing military exercises, and buying defence equipment.
They also talked about a trade deal that has been delayed because of disagreements over farm and dairy products.
General Upendra Dwivedi and Daniel P Driscoll met in New Delhi to discuss strengthening defence cooperation and military engagement.
The meeting focused on bilateral defence cooperation, military-to-military engagement, and global peace and security.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor welcomed the US Congressional Delegation and described the talks as 'productive'.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed trade, nuclear cooperation, and regional security in a phone call.
The US expressed interest in enhancing civil nuclear cooperation with India following India's recent nuclear energy legislation.
- Who
- General Upendra Dwivedi (Indian Army Chief), Daniel P Driscoll (US Secretary of the Army), External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Congressional Delegation (Jimmy Patronis, Mike Rogers, Adam Smith), US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor
- What
- Meetings to discuss strengthening defence cooperation, military-to-military engagement, trade, nuclear cooperation, and regional security
- Where
- New Delhi, India
- When
- Sunday, January 25, 2026
- Why
- To reinforce shared commitment to global peace and security, enhance bilateral defence cooperation, and address trade and security issues
Key facts
- Meeting Participants
- General Upendra Dwivedi (Indian Army Chief) and Daniel P Driscoll (US Secretary of the Army)
- Meeting Location
- New Delhi, India
- Key Discussion Topics
- Bilateral defence cooperation, military-to-military engagement, global peace and security, trade, nuclear cooperation, regional security
- Recent Diplomatic Engagement
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed trade, nuclear cooperation, and regional security in a phone call
- Framework for Defence Cooperation
- New Framework for India-US Defence Cooperation (renewed in 2015 for 10 years)
- Defence Relationship Status
- Major Defence Partnership (MDP) since 2016
- Strategic Trade Authorisation
- India in Tier-1 of US Department of Commerce’s Strategic Trade Authorisation license exception since 2018
- Areas of Defence Cooperation
- Regular bilateral dialogue, military exercises, defence procurements
- US Congressional Delegation
- Jimmy Patronis, Mike Rogers, Adam Smith
- Trade Tensions
- US imposed 50% tariff on Indian goods, including 25% punitive levy over Russian oil purchases
- Bilateral Trade Deal
- Negotiations ongoing, delayed due to Washington's demands for greater access to India's farm and dairy sectors
Timeline
US, India ink 10-year defence pact.
Then, leaders vow to bolster military ties by 2026.
Quotes
Marco Rubio
US Secretary of State
“The United States and India share a historic bond and that the two countries are working closely on defence, energy, critical minerals, and emerging technologies.”
republicworld.com
“There is a multi-layer engagement between the two countries through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), and the India-US relationship has delivered real results for both countries and for the Indo-Pacific region.”
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S Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister of India
“I interacted with US Reps Mike Rogers of Alabama, Adam Smith of Washington state, and Jimmy Patronis of Florida, as well as the US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor.”
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“I had a pleasure meeting Senator @SteveDaines this morning in Delhi. A wide-ranging and open discussion on our bilateral relationship and its strategic significance.”
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The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA)
US government bureau
“The US joins the people of India celebrating your country's adoption of the Constitution and we look forward to seeing what the world's two largest and vibrant democracies will achieve together in the year ahead.”
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Sergio Gor
US Ambassador to India
“Just wrapped a productive meeting with EAM @DrSJaishankar, @RepMikeRogersAL, @RepAdamSmith, and @JimmyPatronis on ways to strengthen U.S.-India partnership for stronger security, expanded trade, and cooperation on critical technologies.”
republicworld.com
Piyush Goyal
Commerce Minister of India
“Delighted to again meet my good friends US Senator @SteveDaines and the US Ambassador to India @SergioGor. Had a productive exchange of views on our bilateral relationship.”
republicworld.com
Sources
Jaishankar holds talks with Sergio Gor, US lawmakers on trade, security
Jaishankar hosts US lawmakers to discuss trade, security. Sergio Gor calls talks 'productive'
Jaishankar Discusses India-US Ties, Indo-Pacific, Ukraine With US Congressional Delegation
India, US discuss strengthening defence cooperation, military-to-military engagement
Indo-Pacific, Ukraine War Figure in Jaishankar-US Talks
US Army Secretary Meets Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Discuss on Strengthening Defence Cooperation
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar discusses security, economy with US lawmakers
"Productive But Complex": S Jaishankar, US Lawmakers Discuss Ties
US Secretary Of State Marco Rubio Wishes India On 77th Republic Day, Highlights Quad Cooperation
