Indian Army Chief Meets US Secretary of the Army

On 25th January 2026, Chief of Army Staff met U.S. Secretary of the Army, in New Delhi to discuss strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and enhancing military-to-military engagement between India and the United States.

Key Points

High-Level Defence Engagement: The meeting focused on deepening bilateral defence cooperation, expanding military-to-military ties, and reinforcing the shared commitment of both armies to global peace and security.
Official Confirmation: The Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information stated that discussions underscored closer cooperation between the two armies across operational and strategic domains.
Areas of Discussion at Ministerial Level: The two sides reviewed cooperation in defence, civil nuclear energy, trade, critical minerals, energy security, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific.
Civil Nuclear Cooperation: The U.S. welcomed India’s enactment of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Act, expressing interest in strengthening India–US civil nuclear cooperation and expanding opportunities for American companies.
Trade and Economic Ties: Ongoing negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement were discussed, with both sides reaffirming their interest in deepening economic engagement.

India–US Defence Partnership

Defence Cooperation Framework: Bilateral defence ties are guided by the New Framework for India–US Defence Cooperation, renewed for a 10-year period in 2015.
Major Defence Partnership: In 2016, India–US defence relations were elevated to a Major Defence Partnership, reflecting growing strategic trust.