India, US eye deeper tech and trade ties under new ‘COMPACT’ framework

Foreign Secretary Misri meets US counterpart to advance cooperation in critical technologies, early trade dialogue

May 30, 2025

Both sides discussed the early convening of the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue

Misri’s visit (May 27–29) follows PM Modi’s February 2025 US trip, where the India-US COMPACT was launched

COMPACT focuses on Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce, and Technology cooperation

This engagement marks one of the earliest bilateral initiatives following President Donald Trump's second-term inauguration

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, on a three-day visit to Washington, D.C., met with Under Secretary Jeffrey Kessler on Wednesday to discuss strengthening India–US cooperation in critical and emerging technologies. The talks included plans for the early convening of the India–US Strategic Trade Dialogue, an important mechanism to align policies and foster deeper bilateral engagement in high-tech sectors.

The Indian Embassy in Washington posted on X, “Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Under Secretary Jeffrey Kessler to advance India-US cooperation in critical and emerging technologies. They also discussed early convening of the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue to deepen tech and trade collaboration.”

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the visit builds momentum from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US in February 2025. During that visit, PM Modi and US President Donald Trump unveiled the India–US COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce, and Technology), a 21st-century framework aimed at transforming bilateral ties across defence, innovation, and trade.

“This visit reflects the shared ambition to operationalise the COMPACT framework,” the MEA stated, adding that Misri will hold meetings with senior US officials to explore actionable pathways in defence tech, AI, semiconductors, and strategic commerce.

PM Modi’s February visit was notable as one of the first bilateral engagements with the newly re-elected Trump administration. The launch of the COMPACT framework was seen as a decisive step in cementing India’s position as a key technology and strategic partner to the US in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

As both countries navigate the geopolitics of emerging technologies, the revival of the Strategic Trade Dialogue and forward movement on COMPACT pillars signal intent to shape a rules-based global tech order rooted in trust and shared innovation.

Source: Economic Times

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