Washington, May 19: India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Quatra, has dismissed concerns regarding tensions in India-US relations. He emphasized that the partnership between the two nations is continuously strengthening, supported by both major political parties in the US. The collaboration is advancing in areas such as trade, technology, defense, and critical minerals.
Addressing the ‘Capitol Hill Summit 2026’ organized by the US-India Friendship Council, Quatra stated that many perceptions about tensions in the relationship are not grounded in reality. He remarked, “We are natural partners, not just because of geography, but also due to our shared values.” He also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech to the US Congress.
The Ambassador noted that over the past 20 years, every US administration has built upon the achievements of its predecessors to strengthen ties with India. He said, “If you look at the continuity of relations over the decades and across different administrations, you will find that each government has tried to build on the successes of the previous one.”
Quatra highlighted that India’s economic progress since 2014 has significantly contributed to the growing collaboration with the US. He stated, “I must mention that India is currently undergoing several major changes and development initiatives.”
Discussing economic relations, he revealed that India and the US aim to increase their annual trade from the current approximately $220 billion to $500 billion by 2030. He identified defense and security cooperation as the fastest-growing area of partnership, noting improved coordination and long-term defense agreements between the two countries.
He added, “Today, India is the largest user of American defense equipment outside the US.”
Quatra also mentioned advancements in semiconductors, critical minerals, and civil nuclear cooperation. He pointed out that the recently passed Civil Nuclear Law in India has opened new avenues for private sector collaboration.
On technological cooperation, he noted that major American companies, including Micron, are investing in India’s semiconductor and electronics sector.
During a Q&A session, the Ambassador robustly defended India’s intellectual property (IP) security. He stated, “India has about 2,000 global capability centers, nearly half of which belong to American companies. This reflects the status of patents, trademarks, and IP security in India.”
In response to a question about educational collaboration, he said that India is progressing towards establishing “world-class institutions” that can attract international students and researchers.
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