New Delhi, May 31 (H.S.) : During visit to Washington D.C. from May 27 to 29, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with senior U.S. officials to discuss topics including defense, commerce, finance, technology, and strategic partnerships, emphasizing that technology, trade, and talent are essential for 21st-century alliances. Misri's discussions with Under Secretary for Commerce Jeffrey Kessler focused on the bilateral trade agreement's progress and simplifying export control regulations like ITAR. Plans for the next strategic trade dialogue meeting were also confirmed. The visit followed the Compact initiative, originating from the Prime Minister's visit in February, and included engagements with industry representatives and think tanks.

Key topics discussed were defense cooperation, energy security, and initiatives such as TRUST, the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture, and platforms like QUAD, I2U2, and IMEC. The Ministry of External Affairs indicated this visit aimed to strengthen the India-U.S. strategic partnership, with discussions across various departments covering defense, trade, technology, financial cooperation, and global strategic alignment. The Foreign Secretary also had a lunch meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, reviewing the bilateral partnership. Conversations with Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Falkender addressed deepening economic ties, while meetings with Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Fineberg focused on co-development, logistics, and information sharing. A roundtable with industry representatives and think tank discussions further enhanced the dialogue on strategic relations.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar