Keen To Deepen Defence Energy Ties With India: US Official Amid Strained Trade Relations

US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker met Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Tuesday, focusing on converting the strategic vision outlined by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year into “concrete progress” across key sectors.

US Under Secretary Allison Hooker meets Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in New Delhi to revive India-US ties amid tariff tensions. Defence, energy, tech, and supply-chain cooperation top the agenda

Hooker is on a five-day visit to India aimed at strengthening bilateral strategic and economic cooperation. Her visit comes at a sensitive time, as India-US relations have been under strain following Trump’s decision in August to double tariffs on Indian exports to 50 per cent. The US also imposed an additional 25 per cent duty on India’s purchase of Russian crude oil, further complicating ties.

Despite the friction, the US embassy said Hooker conveyed Washington’s strong intent to deepen cooperation with India in defence, energy, technology, civil space, and critical supply chains. Both sides emphasised the need to revive momentum and align the partnership with long-term strategic objectives.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the talks allowed a “comprehensive review” of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Discussions covered trade, defence collaborations, civil nuclear cooperation, critical minerals, emerging technologies and the TRUST initiative aimed at strengthening secure supply chains.

Both sides also discussed regional security challenges and reiterated their commitment to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

The meeting builds on Modi’s visit to Washington in February, where India pledged to expand energy imports from the US and purchase advanced defence platforms, including F-35 fighter jets. The two nations also agreed to work toward a mega trade agreement and set a target of USD 500 billion in annual bilateral trade by 2030.

The US has continued to press India to reduce its imports of discounted Russian crude, arguing it indirectly supports Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine. Russia—once a marginal supplier—now accounts for over 35 per cent of India’s oil imports, though purchases have dipped in recent weeks following new US sanctions on major Russian oil companies.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with progress across existing cooperation mechanisms and agreed to accelerate implementation of the COMPACT framework, designed to facilitate transformative defence and technology partnerships.