Senior US official begins 5-day visit amid strain in ties

“Under Secretary Hooker’s visit will focus on advancing the US-India strategic partnership, deepening economic and commercial ties including increasing American exports, and fostering collaboration in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and space exploration,” it said.

In New Delhi, Under Secretary Hooker will meet with senior Indian officials to discuss regional security, economic cooperation, and shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific, including through the Foreign Office Consultations with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

In Bengaluru, she will visit the Indian Space Research Organisation and meet leaders from India’s dynamic space, energy, and technology sectors to promote innovation in US-India research partnerships and to explore opportunities for expanded cooperation.

Under Secretary Hooker’s visit marks another step forward in advancing President Trump’s priorities for a strong US-India partnership and a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Delhi has been calibrated in its approach towards Washington, as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday that the Trump administration’s functioning was “radically different” and expressed confidence that a balanced Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) could be achieved.

Jaishankar said the potential trade deal could happen “soon”, even as he reiterated India’s red lines on negotiations “in order to safeguard the interests of farmers, workers, and small businesses”.

“Every government and every American President has their own way of approaching the world. I can grant you that in the case of President Trump, it’s radically different from how his predecessor did it,” Jaishankar said. Under Secretary Hooker’s visit comes at a time when Delhi and Washington have come together to cooperate on counter-terrorism. And, the Quad grouping also joined in Delhi to work on ways to expand cooperation to combat terrorism under the framework of the grouping.