India and US Advance Trade and Defense Cooperation

Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra conducted a series of high-level meetings in Washington to strengthen bilateral ties across trade and security. Kwatra held a roundtable discussion with the leadership of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, including Chairman Jason Smith and Ranking Member Richard Neal, to expand the trade partnership.

These diplomatic efforts coincide with ongoing negotiations for an interim bilateral trade agreement. The first phase of the deal is currently under review following a meeting in New Delhi between Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Minister Goyal indicated that while a deal is nearly finalized, India requires a competitive tariff advantage over other nations before the agreement takes effect.

On June 27, Kwatra met with U.S. Under Secretary for Defense Elbridge Colby at the Pentagon. The officials discussed the implementation of a 10-year defense cooperation agreement signed in October 2025. This strategic partnership focuses on expanding joint operational coordination, intelligence sharing in cyberspace and space, and defense-industrial cooperation.