A bipartisan delegation from the United States Congress recently visited New Delhi from January 24 to 28, underscoring Washington’s ongoing commitment to deepening defence cooperation and strategic coordination with India. The delegation, led by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Michael Rogers and Ranking Member Adam Smith, included Representative Jimmy Patronis and senior committee staff. This visit marked a significant moment of bipartisan consensus in the U.S., highlighting the importance of the U.S.-India defence partnership amid evolving regional security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
During their stay, the lawmakers engaged in a series of high-level meetings with senior Indian officials, including Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Beyond government channels, the delegation also met with Indian and American defence industry leaders to explore opportunities for closer industrial and technological cooperation.
Chairman Rogers emphasized the strategic value of the U.S.-India partnership, stating, “The United States values India as a Major Defence Partner. Our discussions in New Delhi focused on strengthening defence cooperation and advancing defence technology collaboration that supports India’s defence modernization and enhances regional stability.” His remarks reflect a broader U.S. objective to support India’s efforts to modernize its armed forces while contributing to regional balance and deterrence.
Ranking Member Smith echoed the importance of the dialogue, highlighting the benefits of open and substantive engagement between the two democracies. “The relationship between the United States and India is extremely important for both of our countries and the world. Our ability to conduct the kind of candid dialogue we have carried out on this delegation is crucial to strengthening our defence cooperation and regional stability, providing both economic and national security benefits for all involved,” he said.
U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, also underscored the practical outcomes of the visit. “Chairman Rogers’ visit and meetings with Indian leaders and defence experts advanced practical cooperation on protecting Americans and Indians as well as people throughout the region. These discussions strengthened ongoing defence collaboration, supported India’s defence modernization goals, and reinforced our shared commitment to stability in the Indo-Pacific,” Gor noted.
According to officials familiar with the meetings, the delegation’s discussions focused on expanding existing defence cooperation frameworks, accelerating defence technology collaboration, and identifying concrete opportunities for co-development and co-production of defence systems. Such initiatives are seen as central to aligning the two countries’ defence industrial bases while supporting shared security objectives.
The visit reaffirmed the growing convergence between Washington and New Delhi on regional security priorities and highlighted bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress for deeper defence and strategic ties with India. As both nations navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, this collaboration is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific region.