In a significant move to bolster defence ties, a high-level United States Congressional delegation, led by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Michael Rogers and Ranking Member Adam Smith, recently visited New Delhi. The visit, which took place between January 24 and 28, underscored the sustained US engagement to advance defence cooperation and deepen strategic coordination with India.
During their stay, the delegation met with Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. They also engaged with Indian and American defence industry leaders, highlighting the importance of bilateral defence relations.
“The United States values India as a Major Defense Partner,” Chairman Rogers stated. “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.”
Ranking Member Smith echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the broader implications of the partnership. “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.”
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor further reinforced the significance of the discussions. “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.”
The delegation’s meetings focused on expanding defence cooperation, accelerating defence technology collaboration, and identifying opportunities for co-development and co-production between the United States and India. These efforts align with shared security objectives and aim to enhance regional stability.
This visit comes on the heels of the US releasing its National Defence Strategy (NDS) and follows the signing of the ‘framework for the US-India major defence partnership’ last year. Despite ongoing tensions over tariffs, this framework signifies a stable and robust defence relationship between the two nations.
Earlier, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi met with US Secretary of the Army Daniel P Driscoll to discuss strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, deepening military-to-military engagement, and reinforcing the shared commitment of both armies to global peace and security.
The recent high-level engagements underscore the growing strategic importance of the US-India defence partnership. As both nations navigate a complex geopolitical landscape, their collaboration in defence technology and modernization efforts is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping regional and global security dynamics.