India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, highlighted significant progress in India-US relations, attributing it to economic and policy reforms in India over the past decade. Speaking at the ‘Capitol Hill Summit 2026’ in Washington, Kwatra noted that reforms initiated post-2014 have bolstered trade, investment, and strategic cooperation between the two nations, steering their relationship in a promising new direction.
Addressing the summit organized by the US-India Friendship Council, Kwatra emphasized India’s ongoing transformative changes. He pointed out that the country’s rapid economic growth and reforms have not only strengthened global partnerships but have also expanded the scope of cooperation between India and the US into new areas. He underscored that these developments have laid a solid foundation for future collaborations.
Kwatra outlined an ambitious bilateral trade goal, aiming to elevate trade between the two countries to $500 billion by 2030, up from the current level of approximately $220 billion. He also mentioned that partnerships are gaining momentum in sectors such as technology, energy, and manufacturing. The ambassador highlighted increased defense cooperation, noting that India has become the largest foreign user of several critical US defense platforms. He remarked that both nations’ military forces are collaborating on various levels to address shared security challenges, with a focus on maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
In the realm of civilian nuclear energy, Kwatra discussed the potential for new collaborative opportunities following the enactment of the SHANTI Act, which has opened avenues for private sector participation. This is expected to further enhance technical and industrial cooperation between India and the US. Additionally, Kwatra referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the US Congress, emphasizing the deep democratic values shared by both countries, which underpin their strategic partnership. He acknowledged the consistent efforts of successive US administrations to strengthen ties with India.
The summit also featured prominent US lawmakers, including Representatives Ro Khanna, Deborah Ross, Tim Moore, and Senator Steve Daines, who participated in discussions on the future of India-US relations, global security, and economic cooperation. Experts believe that the evolving partnership between the two nations will play a critical role in shaping global politics and trade in the coming years.