India and US officials push forward defence and trade ties despite Trump’s tariff hike, balancing strategic cooperation, energy security, and congressional outreach in a turbulent geopolitical landscape….reports Asian Lite News
Indian and American officials are doubling down on defence and trade engagement even as Washington’s recent tariff hike on Indian goods, linked to New Delhi’s oil imports from Russia, introduces turbulence into the bilateral relationship.
On Tuesday, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia, Dr Andrew Byers, met Joint Secretary (Maritime & Systems Acquisition) Dinesh Kumar in New Delhi for talks focused on defence procurement and future cooperation. The Ministry of Defence said both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the India–US defence partnership.
In a post on X, the ministry stated: “Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence (South & Southeast Asia), US DoD Dr Andrew Byers today met Joint Secretary (Maritime & Systems Acquisition) Shri Dinesh Kumar. They discussed key issues of defence procurement & reaffirmed commitment to further strengthen the India-US defence partnership.”
Defence dialogues intensify
The meeting comes as part of a wider series of high-level engagements. Earlier this month, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal underlined that the India–US defence partnership, underpinned by foundational agreements, remains “an important pillar” of bilateral ties. He noted that both sides are preparing for a number of defence dialogues, including the 2+2 Intersessional meeting scheduled later this month, and the 21st edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas, set to take place in Alaska.
In July, senior military officials from both countries met on the sidelines of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, where they explored ways to deepen interoperability, strengthen security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and enhance operational readiness. According to the Integrated Defence Staff, those talks highlighted future opportunities for cooperation in maintaining peace and stability across the region.
Trade and energy ties under spotlight
Even as defence cooperation gains momentum, the economic side of the partnership is under strain following US President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent. The move, the White House explained, was intended as “secondary pressure” on Russia over its ongoing war in Ukraine, with India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil cited as a key factor.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, telling reporters: “The president has put tremendous public pressure to bring this war to a close. He’s taken actions, as you’ve seen, sanctions on India and other actions as well. He’s made himself very clear that he wants to see this war end.”
The tariff hike has sparked concerns in New Delhi, where officials have sought to balance strategic engagement with Washington while maintaining access to discounted Russian energy supplies.
Indian diplomacy in Washington
Against this backdrop, India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, has been intensifying his outreach to American lawmakers to shore up congressional support for bilateral trade. On Wednesday, Kwatra met Senator John Cornyn, Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus, for talks focusing on hydrocarbons and trade, particularly between the state of Texas and India.
“Had a productive discussion with Senator John Cornyn, Co-Chair of India Caucus in the US Senate. Grateful to him for his support to the bilateral relationship. Discussed issues of mutual interest and highlighted the importance of bilateral trade engagement grounded in mutual respect. We also discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation further in hydrocarbons, particularly between Texas and India,” Kwatra wrote on X.
In a separate engagement, Ambassador Kwatra held talks with Congressman Andy Barr, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Financial Institutions & Monetary Policy and Vice Co-Chair of the India Caucus in the House of Representatives. Their discussions centred on boosting bilateral trade and investment flows.
“Had a productive conversation today with Congressman Andy Barr… We continued our exchange of thoughts on the many possibilities of enhancing US-India bilateral trade & investment partnership,” Kwatra posted.
A relationship under pressure, but resilient
Despite trade frictions, both governments continue to stress that the India–US partnership remains indispensable. Defence ties, science and technology cooperation, and strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific have been steadily growing, with Washington viewing New Delhi as a key partner in counterbalancing China’s influence.
For India, the United States represents not only a crucial defence partner but also a source of technology and investment. At the same time, maintaining energy security through Russian oil imports remains a priority—setting up a balancing act that is likely to define New Delhi’s foreign policy posture in the months ahead.
As diplomats and defence officials work to keep the momentum on track, the coming weeks—with Yudh Abhyas, the 2+2 intersessional meeting, and further congressional outreach—will be critical in shaping how the partnership weathers the current storm of tariffs and geopolitical pressures.
