New Delhi [India]: India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will undertake a two-day official visit to Washington, D.C. from May 27 to 29, where he will hold high-level meetings with senior officials of the United States administration, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Sunday.
The visit is a follow-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to the US in February 2025, during which India and the US launched the India-US COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century.
“Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri will be visiting Washington, D.C., USA from 27-29 May 2025 to meet senior officials of the US Administration,” the MEA said in its official statement. “The visit is a follow-up to Prime Minister’s visit to the United States in February 2025, when both sides launched the India-U.S. COMPACT.”
Strengthening a 21st Century Strategic Partnership
The India-US COMPACT is a wide-ranging initiative aimed at deepening cooperation in defence, trade, and emerging technologies, reflecting a growing alignment of strategic interests between the two countries.
The COMPACT was jointly unveiled by Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump during the Indian PM’s first visit to the US since Trump’s second-term inauguration in January 2025. Modi was among the first world leaders to be invited to Washington after the new US administration assumed office.
The initiative embodies a results-driven agenda, with tangible outcomes expected within the year to demonstrate the high level of trust and convergence in India-US relations.
Defence Partnership: A Central Pillar
Both leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to a robust defence partnership, which spans all domains—land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace.
A key outcome of the February visit was the announcement of negotiations for a new ten-year Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership, expected to be finalized in 2025.
India’s growing acquisition of US-origin defence systems—including C-130J Super Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, P-8I Poseidon, CH-47F Chinooks, AH-64E Apaches, Harpoon missiles, M777 howitzers, and MQ-9B drones—was also acknowledged as a sign of deepening military ties.
The leaders committed to:
- Enhanced joint military training and exercises,
- Integrated operations,
- Technology sharing and co-development.
Bilateral Trade Agreement on the Horizon
Recognizing the need to support this strategic ambition with stronger economic ties, India and the US also announced plans to begin negotiations on a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The first tranche of the BTA is expected to be negotiated and concluded by fall 2025.
The BTA will aim to create fair-trade terms and foster investment across key industries, including technology, energy, digital infrastructure, and critical minerals.
Senior representatives have been designated by both sides to accelerate negotiations and align trade frameworks with the broader vision of the COMPACT.
A High-Stakes Diplomatic Visit
Foreign Secretary Misri’s meetings in Washington are expected to advance the implementation of this strategic roadmap and identify early deliverables under COMPACT. He will also discuss:
- Geopolitical developments in the Indo-Pacific and West Asia,
- Emerging tech partnerships including AI, quantum computing, and semiconductors,
- Strategic deterrence and supply chain resilience.
This visit underscores India’s renewed diplomatic momentum and its commitment to cultivating trusted, forward-looking partnerships with like-minded nations in a rapidly shifting global order.