Page 69 - Us India Relations

India-US looking at finalising MQ-9B Predator drone deal by early next year

India is looking at sealing a landmark deal to procure 31 MQ-9B Predator armed drones from the US under a government-to-government framework by March with the US Congress expected to clear the supplies in the next few weeks, people familiar with the matter said. American and Indian government officials will hold the final series of negotiations on the procurement after Washington responds to India's Letter of Request (LoR) for the acquisition of drones from US defence major General Atomics (GA), they said. India is procuring the long-endurance 'hunter-killer' drones to crank up the surveillance apparatus of the armed forces, especially along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Though the price of the drones will be finalised during the negotiation process, it is estimated that the procurement would cost around USD 3 billion. The people cited above said New Delhi and Washington will depute their respective teams to firm up the deal including finalising the cost and other ..

Indian envoy Sandhu heckled by pro-Khalistani elements in New York Gurdwara

The Indian envoy could be seen leaving the premises in his vehicle, while a lone protestor raised the Khalistani flag outside the Gurdwara

Full potential of India-US civil nuclear deal remains untapped: Expert

More than 18 years after India and the US signed a civil nuclear deal, its full potential and promise along with the larger bilateral partnership is yet to be realised, according to a top American expert. While New Delhi is yet to remove obstacles that prevent its purchase of nuclear reactors from the United States, Washington has not been able to match the policy with vision, Ashley J Tellis, the Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs and a senior fellow at the prestigious Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said. US President Joe Biden's ambition to finally fructify the 2005 civil nuclear agreement cannot end with the sale of US nuclear reactors to India. Rather, it must extend to revising long-standing US policies that continue to make the existence of India's nuclear weapons programme an insuperable obstacle to deepened technological cooperation, he asserted in an opinion piece published by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Monday. "Where India is concerned, New ..

India takes security inputs from US seriously: MEA on plot to kill Pannun

India on Wednesday said it takes inputs on security matters from the US seriously since they impinge on its own national security concerns as well. The remarks from the Ministry of External Affairs came on a day British daily Financial Times said that the US had thwarted an attempt to kill Sikh extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. "During the course of recent discussions on India-US security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others," Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in response to queries on the British media report. He said the inputs were a cause of concern for both countries and they decided to take necessary follow-up action. "On its part, India takes such inputs seriously since it impinges on our own national security interests as well," Bagchi said. The spokesman said issues in the context of US inputs are already being examined by relevant departme

US increasing staff, opening new consulates to reduce visa delays: Garcetti

The US is increasing staff strength and opening new consulates, including in Ahmedabad, to reduce the waiting time for issuance of visas from India, US Ambassador Eric Garcetti said on Monday. One consulate was recently opened in Hyderabad and premises are being looked at in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad for new consulates, he said during an interactive session, organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) here. "I had a look at the new premises for establishing a consulate in Ahmedabad yesterday. Some more people have already joined the Hyderabad consulate as we are increasing the staff strength in the city and premises are being taken up in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad for setting up new consulates," he said. He said the number of US visas being issued in India had increased by one-third in recent weeks and the embassy was likely to issue 10-15 per cent more visas than usual in the current calendar year. Garcetti said the delay in issuance of visas was due to the large number of ...

US envoy pushes for deeper Indo-US conversations on AI regulatory framework

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti on Monday made a strong pitch for "deeper conversations" between New Delhi and Washington on a regulatory framework on artificial intelligence, saying it could be an example of "multiplicative relationship" between the two democracies. In an interactive session organised by Observer Research Foundation, Garcetti stressed on the need to "get in front" of artificial intelligence (AI) to avoid facing catastrophic consequences. He made it clear that while there had been deep conversations on the issue with India, there was no formal proposal yet from either side. Garcetti noted that US President Joe Biden had spoken strongly on the issue. Last month, Biden issued an executive order that required AI manufacturers to provide the federal government with an assessment of their applications' vulnerability to cyberattacks, the data used to train and test the AI and its performance measurements. "If we don't get in front of AI, the consequences, even if i

India-US ink pact to improve cooperation among startups, promote innovation

India and the US have signed an agreement to promote innovation through increasing cooperation among startups, address regulatory hurdles, and share best practices on fundraising by entrepreneurs, an official statement said on Wednesday. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on enhancing innovation ecosystems through an innovation handshake under the framework of India-US Commercial Dialogue was signed on November 14 in San Francisco. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is in San Francisco. The commerce and industry ministry said that the MoU was signed at an industry roundtable meeting. Indian industry players, CEOs from major ICT companies, executives from venture capital firms, and founders of startups in the critical and emerging technology space participated and discussed ways to enhance US-India technology collaboration. "The MoU is signed with the objective to connect the two sides' dynamic startup ecosystems, address specific regulatory hurdles to cooperation, shar

Piyush Goyal, US trade rep Katherine Tai discuss trade boost in key meet

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met the US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai and discussed ways to further boost trade and investments between the two countries. Goyal is in the US for a four-day visit. He reached San Francisco on November 13. He also met Dukgeun Ahn, Minister of Trade, Korea, and Gan Kim Yong, Minister of Trade and Industry, Singapore. These ministers are in the US for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) meeting. "Wonderful meeting my friend Ambassador Katherine Tai, the US Trade Representative. We discussed ways to further deepen our trade & investment ties along with convergence on key WTO issues for a favourable outcome at MC13," Goyal said on the social platform X. The 164-member World Trade Organization (WTO) is holding its 13th ministerial conference (MC) at Abu Dhabi in February next year. During the ministerial meetings in San Francisco, Goyal discussed potential collaboration under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), .

Message for Beijing

Indo-US geopolitical collaboration is expanding

US, India forge stronger ties for open, secure Indo-Pacific future

Blinken also reiterated that they are looking forward to continuing their innovations in technology, clean energy, and space for a brighter future

India and US call for 'humanitarian pause' in ongoing Israel-Gaza war

US commits to boosting India's defence manufacturing capabilities as 2+2 talks focus on defence partnership

Bring perpetrators of 26/11 attack, Pathankot strike to justice: India, US

In a veiled message to Pakistan, India and the US on Friday reiterated their condemnation of the 26/11 Mumbai attack and the Pathankot strike and called for bringing the perpetrators to justice. In a joint statement at the end of the '2+2' foreign and defence ministerial dialogue, New Delhi and Washington unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism, and the use of terrorist proxies and logistical, financial or military support to terror groups. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin led the American delegation at the talks while the Indian side was headed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The two sides also deliberated on the situation in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to adhere to their commitment to prevent any group or individual from using the territory of Afghanistan to threaten the security of any country. India and the US also urged the Taliban to respect the human rights of all .

India and US to co-produce armoured vehicle: US Defence Secretary Austin

India and the US will co-produce an infantry combat vehicle as part of defence industrial cooperation, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Friday. He said this while speaking to a small group of journalists after the '2+2' defence and foreign ministerial dialogue in Delhi. Besides Austin, the US delegation comprised Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Indian side was headed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. "We are working together to co-produce an armoured vehicle and that is extremely important," Austin said. To a question, he said the talks covered a wide range of issues including the rising security challenges from China. At the same time, he said the US-India relationship is not just based on challenges that China represents but it is based on shared values between the two countries. Asked about the project under which India will procure 31 MQ-9B drones from the US, Austin said it will be announced at the right time. Offi

India-US hold 'substantive' 2+2 dialogue; focus on expanding strategic ties

India and the US on Friday held wide-ranging talks to expand their global strategic partnership by shoring up engagement in areas of defence production, critical minerals and high-technology besides focusing on the situation arising out of the Israel-Hamas conflict and China's military muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific. The India-US '2+2' foreign and defence ministerial dialogue took place amid growing geopolitical turmoil, largely triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war, the escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel in West Asia. The American delegation at the '2+2' ministerial dialogue talks was led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh headed the Indian side. At the end of the dialogue, Jaishankar described the talks as "substantive". "Our agenda covered advancing our strategic partnership, including elevating our defense ties, moving forward in space & tech, future

India-US 2+2 dialogue: Jaishankar meets US State Secy Blinken for key talks

The 2+2 dialogue will provide a platform for top-level discussions between the US and India, addressing critical bilateral and global matters.

US-India ties critical, need to maintain momentum: USISPF on 2+2 dialogue

The 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue is a diplomatic summit between India and the US held every year since 2018. This year, it comes amid various geopolitical issues, including the ongoing Middle East crisis.

US-India ties reaffirmed with 2+2 dialogue amid geopolitical challenges

The India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue comes as the world witnesses changing geopolitical landscape under the shadow of Ukraine conflict, Israel-Hamas war among other things.

2+2 dialogue to focus on deepening security cooperation: State department

The India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue in New Delhi this week will focus on deepening security cooperation between the two countries, the State Department said Wednesday ahead of the crucial meeting of foreign and defense ministers from India and the United States. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would host their American counterparts Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Tony Blinken on November 10. "India is a country that we have a deep partnership (with). He (Blinken) will be going for the 2+2 security dialogue with Secretary of Defense Austin, so I expect, of course, that deepening the security cooperation and partnership will be one of the many topics that are discussed," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at his daily news conference. "It was something that was obviously raised during Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's state visit earlier this year, and I know the Secretary looks forward to .

Nearly 97000 Indians detained trying to enter US illegally in last one year

These intruders primarily hail from Gujarat and Punjab in India and aspire to settle in America

India most important country for US, says Ambassador Eric Garcetti

India is the most important country for the US and their relationship is the most defining relationship of the century, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said on Thursday. Garcetti made the remarks at The Energy Transition Dialogues hosted by Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet ( GEAPP) in New Delhi. "I used to say it in private but now I can say it in public, when the (US) President asked me consider this post (of Ambassador to India) he said India is the most important country in the world for me. I don't know if any American president has ever said that... President Joe Biden he actually did mean it..." the Ambassador said. Garcetti further said he believes the US India-relationship is the most defining relationship of this century. On the G20 summit organised under India's presidency in September, he said it was the best ever in the history. "The relationship is not just US plus India. It is an exponential relationship. Look at how we attended our best ever G20 in