Vikram Misri Concludes Diplomatic Mission, Both Sides Agree Tech, Trade To Shape India-US Relations
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri concluded a key diplomatic mission to Washington, DC from May 27 to 29, 2025, during which he led a series of high-level talks across the US government.
This visit came in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to the United States on February 13, which marked the launch of the India-US COMPACT — an initiative aimed at accelerating military cooperation, technology collaboration, and economic growth between the two countries. The Indian delegation also included Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor, an official release from the Ministry of External Affairs revealed.
Focus on Trade, Technology, and Regulation Reform
Among the most critical elements of the dialogue was the review of the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement and collaboration in frontier technologies. In discussions with the US Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler, the Indian side emphasised the importance of enhancing cooperation in critical and emerging tech sectors.
Both parties acknowledged the need to simplify the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and other export control mechanisms to unlock further potential in bilateral trade. The two sides also agreed to convene the next round of the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue as soon as possible.
Meetings with senior figures across departments—the State Department, National Security Council, Department of Defense, Department of the Treasury, and Department of Commerce—highlighted the shared vision for a stronger partnership.
A luncheon hosted by US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau served as a platform to review the entire bilateral agenda. It was underscored that "Technology, Trade, and Talent would be the key pillars shaping the India-US partnership in the 21st century."
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Defence and Financial Ties Strengthened
The visit also focused heavily on defence cooperation. In talks with Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg and Under Secretary for Policy Elbridge Colby, discussions centered around co-development, co-production, and improving military interoperability through logistics frameworks and information sharing. The commitment to a forward-looking and comprehensive defence partnership was reiterated.
On the financial front, Foreign Secretary Misri met with Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender to explore opportunities for expanding bilateral economic engagement. Topics included enhancing collaboration in global financial institutions and aligning on upcoming processes of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Strategic Platforms and Industry Engagement
A series of inter-agency discussions took place, aligning with the objectives set out in the COMPACT framework. Key issues included energy security, counter-terrorism, regional initiatives like the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture, and strategic platforms such as the Quad, I2U2, and IMEEC.
In addition, Foreign Secretary Misri and DNSA Kapoor led a roundtable with industry leaders to identify ways to deepen collaboration in emerging tech domains. The visit also featured an interaction with the think tank community, where the full scope of the India-US strategic partnership was explored. Once again, the central message remained clear: "Technology, Trade, and Talent would be the key pillars shaping the India-U.S. partnership in the 21st century."
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