India and US Reaffirm Strategic Partnership

On 24th May 2026, India and the United States reaffirmed their strategic partnership during talks between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New Delhi, focusing on defence, trade, immigration, maritime security, and Indo-Pacific cooperation.

Key Points

Strategic Partnership: Both countries described India-US relations as a deep strategic partnership covering defence, trade, energy, technology, and security cooperation.
Defence Cooperation: India and the US renewed their 10-year major defence partnership framework agreement and signed an underwater domain awareness roadmap.
Trade Negotiations: Both sides expressed optimism about concluding an interim trade agreement leading to a broader bilateral trade deal.
Immigration Reforms: The US clarified that reforms in J-1, F-1, and H-1B visa systems are part of a global immigration modernisation process.
Energy Security: India highlighted diversification of energy imports and described the US as a reliable energy partner.
Iran and Strait of Hormuz: Discussions covered regional tensions, maritime security, and diplomatic efforts regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.
Quad Cooperation: Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of the Quad and cooperation among Indo-Pacific maritime democracies.