India's post-2014 economic transformation anchors India-US ties: Foreign Secretary Kwatra
Quick Look
- India's economic transformation since 2014 is the cornerstone of its growing strategic partnership with the US, stated Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.
- Bilateral trade is targeted at $500 billion by 2030, with defense collaboration rapidly expanding.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
India's economic transformation since 2014 has become a key factor in its strategic partnership with the United States. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra highlighted this at a US-India Friendship Council event, noting shared democratic values and continuity in US administrations as further strengthening ties.
India’s Post-2014 Economic Transformation Became Anchor of India-US Ties, Says Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra
Washington: India's economic transformation since 2014 has been the anchor point of its expanding engagement with the US, Indian envoy to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra said here.
Addressing the Capitol Hill Summit 2026 organised by the US-India Friendship Council here on Monday, Kwatra said the passage of the SHANTI Act has unlocked opportunities for private sector collaboration in the civil nuclear power domain.
"One of the drivers, I must point out, is a set of transformational journeys that are currently taking place in India," he said, addressing the conference that was attended by US lawmakers, including Ro Khanna, Deborah Ross, Tim Moore and Senator Steve Daines.
Kwatra said India and the US had set a target to increase bilateral trade from approximately USD 220 billion annually to USD 500 billion by 2030.
He said defence and security cooperation was one of the fastest-growing pillars of the India-US partnership, and New Delhi was the largest user of some American platforms outside the US.
"Today, India is the largest user of a couple of American platforms outside the US. But this is also covered by what we are able to do together at an operational level at the level of various commands in terms of addressing the shared challenges that we face in the defence and security space," the envoy said.
"We are natural partners not because of geography or compulsions of geography, but because of our shared values," he said, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the US Congress in 2023.
Kwatra said every US administration over the past two decades had built upon the achievements of its predecessor in strengthening ties with India.
"If you look at the thread of the relationship over the previous decades and through the successive administrations, you will find that each administration has tried, sought and successfully built on the achievements of the previous administration," he said.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Bilateral trade between India and the US will reach USD 500 billion by 2030.
Likely · Medium term
Defense collaboration between India and the US will continue to be a fast-growing pillar of the relationship.
Very likely · Medium term
Increased private sector collaboration in India's civil nuclear power domain.
Possible · Medium term
Open Questions
- What are the specific details of the SHANTI Act and its implementation?
- What are the 'shared challenges' in the defense and security space that India and the US are addressing?
- What specific American defense platforms is India the largest user of outside the US?
- What was the nature of Prime Minister Modi's address to the US Congress in 2023 that was cited as an example of shared values?
