India and the US have resumed virtual talks on a bilateral trade deal after the holiday break, with both sides signalling commitment but no timeline yet for in-person negotiations
There's no shortage of forecasts for 2026, but 2025 shows why we should treat them with scepticism
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, as India and the US step up engagement on trade and strategic ties
The failure to reach an agreement had pushed the Indian rupee to a record low and spooked investors waiting for progress in two-way negotiations
US Vice President J D Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have congratulated Sergio Gor as he took charge as the US Ambassador to India, expressing confidence that he would do a great job in New Delhi. Namaste! Today marks my first day at the US Embassy in New Delhi. I am honoured to join this dedicated team and eager to get to work advancing President Donald Trump's priorities and deepening the US-India partnership. I couldn't be more optimistic about the days ahead for both of our nations under President Trump's leadership, Gor posted on social media on Monday. Amplifying the post, Vance said, Congrats, Mr. Ambassador. You'll do a great job! Rubio echoed the sentiment, saying, You will do a great job! Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also welcomed Gor, calling him a great addition to our team. Gor, 39, arrived in New Delhi on January 9 to take up his new role as US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy to South and Central Asia. Addressing US Embassy personnel,
Union Minister for Railway, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, participated in the Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting hosted by United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday (local time).Bessent convened a meeting of Finance Ministers at the United States Treasury to discuss solutions to secure and diversify supply chains for critical minerals, especially rare earth elements.In a post on X, the Secretary of the Treasury wrote, "At today's Finance Ministerial hosted by the @USTreasury, I was pleased to hear a strong, shared desire to quickly address key vulnerabilities in critical minerals supply chains. I am optimistic that nations will pursue prudent derisking over decoupling and understand well the need for decisive action."According to the US Department of Treasury, participants in the Ministerial included Treasurer of Australia, Jim Chalmers; Minister of Finance of Canada, Francois-Philippe Champagne; European
Says both nations remain 'actively' engaged, next call scheduled on Jan 13
Rising US tariff threats over Russia ties are straining India's trade outlook, putting exports, investment flows and economic stability at fresh risk
The arrival of the new US ambassador comes at a sensitive phase in India-US ties, with trade frictions persisting even as both sides look to deepen strategic, defence and technology cooperation
With the UK, EFTA deals already in the bag, EU on the way, almost every member of RCEP except China signed up, and even restrictions on China being lifted, India has changed its mind on trade
Modi, Trump spoke over phone on eight occasions, says MEA
India said it is closely tracking a proposed US Bill on Russian oil tariffs, reaffirmed its stance on energy security, and reiterated sovereignty claims over Shaksgam Valley
India missed a crucial trade deal window with the US after PM Modi did not call President Trump, pushing New Delhi further back as Washington signed pacts with other countries
Senator Lindsey Graham said Trump has greenlit a bipartisan bill that would let the US impose steep duties on countries buying Russian oil, complicating India-US trade talks
Donald Trump has 'approved' a bipartisan sanctions bill that proposes duties of up to 500 per cent on countries buying Russian oil, raising pressure on India, China and Brazil
Security dependence, not trade policy, explains Washington's speed with others, and why India is holding its ground
Trump warns of higher tariffs on Indian imports if New Delhi continues buying Russian oil, sharpening trade tensions amid stalled India-US deal talks
A group of US lawmakers has written a letter to Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra, urging a fair and timely trial for activist Umar Khalid in "accordance with international law. US Representatives Jim McGovern and Jamie Raskin are among eight lawmakers who have expressed concern regarding the "prolonged pre-trial detention of individuals charged in connection with the February 2020 violence in Delhi, including Khalid. Khalid and a few others have been booked under the stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for allegedly being the "masterminds" of the Delhi riots, which left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured. "The US and India share a long-standing strategic partnership that has historically been rooted in democratic values, constitutional governance and strong people-to-people ties, the letter said, adding that as the world's largest democracies, both nations have an interest
After being left out initially, India is now in talks with the US to join the Pax Silica silicon supply chain initiative, with a US official signalling possible entry in early 2026 as the bloc expands
One lesson India learnt the hard way in 2025 was the danger of excessive dependence on the US market