19 May,2026 08:50 AM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondent
US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. File Pic
India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, dismissed concerns over tensions in India-US relations and said the partnership between the two countries continues to grow steadily across several sectors, including trade, defence, technology and critical minerals.
Speaking at the Capitol Hill Summit 2026 organised by the US-India Friendship Council in Washington, Kwatra said many assumptions about disagreements between New Delhi and Washington do not reflect the actual state of the relationship.
Kwatra said India and the United States enjoy broad bipartisan support, regardless of changes in political leadership in either country. Referring to the evolution of ties over the years, he said successive American administrations have continued to strengthen cooperation with India rather than reverse earlier progress.
According to the ambassador, the relationship between the two democracies is rooted in shared values and mutual interests rather than strategic compulsions.
"We are natural partners not because of geography or compulsions of geography, but because of our shared values," Kwatra said while recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's previous address to the US Congress.
He also noted that every US administration over the last two decades had contributed to deepening bilateral engagement by building on achievements made by previous governments.
Highlighting economic cooperation, Kwatra pointed to India's economic transformation since 2014 as one of the major reasons for stronger engagement between the two countries.
He said India and the United States are working towards significantly increasing bilateral trade. At present, annual trade between the two countries stands at around USD 220 billion, with both sides aiming to raise it to USD 500 billion by 2030.
Kwatra also spoke about rising American investments in India's semiconductor and electronics sectors. He referred to projects involving Micron Technology and other US firms as examples of expanding technological collaboration between the two nations.
The ambassador described defence cooperation as one of the fastest-growing aspects of India-US relations. He said operational coordination between the two countries has increased considerably in recent years, along with long-term defence frameworks.
"Today, India is the largest user of a couple of American platforms outside the US," Kwatra said while discussing defence ties.
He also highlighted collaboration in critical minerals, semiconductors and civil nuclear energy. According to him, India's recent legislative changes in the civil nuclear sector have opened the door for greater private sector participation and future cooperation.
During the interaction session, Kwatra defended India's record on intellectual property protection after questions were raised about patent and trademark safeguards.
He said the presence of nearly 2,000 global capability centres in India, many of them operated by American companies, reflected confidence in India's regulatory and intellectual property systems.
Kwatra also spoke about educational cooperation, stating that India is working towards building institutions capable of attracting global talent, researchers and students.
Describing the Indian diaspora in the United States as a "foundational anchor" of bilateral ties, he credited Indian Americans with strengthening political, economic and cultural relations between the two countries.
The summit brought together lawmakers, diplomats, business leaders and policy experts amid ongoing discussions around trade disputes, visa policies and shifting geopolitical priorities affecting India-US relations.
(With inputs from IANS)
