In October last year, India and the United States had signed a new 10-year defence framework to enhance cooperation in regional stability amid trade tensions. Now, senior military leaders from both the countries have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence cooperation.
Even as India-US bilateral ties face strain from tariff disputes, delayed trade negotiations and repeated protectionist threats from US President Donald Trump, New Delhi and Washington seem committed to strengthening their military-to-military engagement.
US Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll met Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi in New Delhi on Sunday (January 25, 2026), with discussions centred on boosting military engagement and expanding defence cooperation between the two strategic partners.
What was discussed at the India–US Army leadership meeting?
According to the Indian Army, the talks focused on enhancing bilateral defence cooperation, expanding military engagement and reinforcing the shared commitment of both armies to global peace and security.
In a post on X, the Army’s Additional Directorate General said the meeting underscored the growing alignment between New Delhi and Washington on defence and security priorities, despite headwinds in other areas of the relationship.
How significant is the meeting amid trade and tariff frictions
Driscoll and General Dwivedi’s latest engagement comes at a time when India–US ties have been under pressure due to delays in finalising a long-pending trade deal and renewed tariff threats from the Trump administration. Moreover, US’ hardline trade posture has raised concerns in India about market access among other things.
The US Army Secretary underlined that “the partnership between our two great armies has never been stronger”. He noted, “It was an honor to meet with my counterparts in the Indian Army today for a series of productive discussions.”
Against this backdrop, the high-level military interaction signals a deliberate effort by both sides to ring-fence defence and security cooperation from economic disagreements, highlighting the strategic weight the partnership carries.
How are India–US defence ties continuing to expand?
Defence cooperation between the two countries has gathered momentum across domains, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. In November last year, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi visited the United States to advance maritime cooperation.
His visit focused on maritime security and domain awareness; operational interoperability; protection of sea lanes and undersea infrastructure; humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and counter-piracy operations. These engagements reflect a shared interest in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific.
What role does defence trade play in the partnership?
Military hardware and capability-building remain a key pillar of India–US defence ties. In November 2025, the United States approved the sale of FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and M982A1 Excalibur precision-guided artillery projectiles to India, initially valued at $47.1 million.
The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency later confirmed a broader military sale worth $93 million, which included 100 Javelin missiles, launch units, training systems, spare parts and full lifecycle support.
India-US military engagement builds on recent political-level agreements. Prior to the $93 million deal, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had in October 2025 exchanged an agreement on the framework for the US–India Major Defence Partnership on the sidelines of talks in Kuala Lumpur.
The move followed the signing of the 10-year Defence Framework Agreement, which provides long-term direction to bilateral defence cooperation. Announcing the development, Hegseth had stated that India–US defence ties had “never been stronger”.