Daijiworld Media Network- Washington (DD)
Washington, May 28: In a high-level engagement aimed at reinforcing strategic ties, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Jeffrey Kessler, US Under Secretary for Industry and Security, to accelerate bilateral cooperation in critical and emerging technologies. The talks, held in Washington, are part of Misri’s three-day visit to the United States and mark a significant step forward in the evolving India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue.
According to the Indian Embassy’s post on X (formerly Twitter), the leaders discussed a roadmap to strengthen collaboration in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, clean energy, and defence innovation. The talks emphasized fast-tracking regulatory harmonisation and removing bottlenecks in export controls — a key concern for technology-driven economic and security partnerships.
“This isn’t just a bureaucratic meeting — it’s a bridge to the future,” a senior official was quoted as saying, underscoring the dialogue’s strategic importance.
Misri’s visit builds on the momentum generated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s February trip to the US, where he and President Donald Trump jointly launched the India-US COMPACT — an initiative focused on military partnership, commerce, and technology cooperation. The Washington discussions are being seen as a practical follow-up to operationalise commitments made during that landmark summit.
Analysts note that the dialogue also reflects the two democracies’ shared ambition to shape global technology norms amid rising geopolitical competition and fragmented supply chains.
While the talks were future-focused, the backdrop is marked by diplomatic unease. Misri’s visit comes in the wake of President Trump’s claim that the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire was mediated by Washington — a statement firmly refuted by New Delhi.
Indian officials maintain that the de-escalation was a direct outcome of “Operation Sindoor,” during which Indian forces carried out precision airstrikes on critical military targets in Pakistan. According to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, multiple countries had reached out to India between May 7 and 10, but India acted solely in national interest, without external mediation.
Despite such undercurrents, the dominant theme of Misri’s visit remains the future of India-US relations. With global geopolitics shifting and technology becoming the new frontier, the two nations are aligning their strategies to promote economic resilience, defence co-development, and technological self-reliance.
The Strategic Trade Dialogue, once formally launched, is expected to serve as the nerve center for resolving trade-tech policy frictions and fostering deeper industry-level cooperation.
As both countries look to anchor their economies in innovation, the partnership is poised not just for growth, but for leadership in shaping the technological world order of the 21st century.