Editorial 2: ​The parallel track that keeps U.S.-India ties going

Context

Even as political engagement remains limited, institutional collaboration continues to broaden and deepen.
 

Introduction

In 2025, despite political frictions and the deferment of the Quad Leaders’ Summit scheduled to be hosted by India, the structural foundations of United States–India cooperation remain robust and forward-moving. Although high-level political engagement appears muted - particularly amid U.S. trade sanctions on India and Washington’s improving ties with Pakistan - institutional collaboration between the two democracies continues to deepen, especially in defence and critical technology domains.

Strategic and Economic Frictions Shaping India–U.S. Ties

• In this context, the visits of S. Jaishankar and the Indian Navy Chief to the United States underscore the continuity and resilience of the bilateral partnership beyond momentary political headwinds.
• The Quad Leaders’ Summit, which India was to host, has been postponed amid opaque official communication, mirroring current bilateral tensions
• These strains are underscored by worsening trade relations, including the U.S. tariff regime on Indian goods and concerns in New Delhi over a perceived U.S.–China “G-2” style rapprochement
• India’s exports to the United States dropped sharply in 2025, highlighting the economic fallout of these frictions
• Economic pressures persist through U.S. tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian crude oil, even as China and Pakistan benefit from lower tariffs and improved ties with Washington
• Islamabad’s strategic offerings, including port access and critical mineral shipments to American firms, reflect economic decisions shaped by geopolitical imperatives
• Despite these transactional strains, U.S. officials continue to signal the strategic importance of relations with India, revealing Washington’s balance-of-interest pragmatism

Continuing Institutional Cooperation within the Quad

• Despite strained political signalling, institutional engagement within the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue has intensified
• The July 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington launched new initiatives covering maritime security, transnational threats, economic cooperation, critical technologies, and humanitarian assistance
• The Quad Counterterrorism Working Group held its third meeting in December 2025, underlining the grouping’s operational continuity
• These developments show that the Quad’s functional relevance extends well beyond high-level political optics

Defence and Technology as the Core of Resilience

• Defence cooperation remains the backbone of India–United States ties
• Since the 2008 civil nuclear deal, bilateral defence and technology agreements have expanded steadily
• The decade-long Defence Framework Agreement signed in 2025 marks a new phase in joint coordination, information sharing, and technological collaboration
• Regular bilateral and multilateral military exercises enhance interoperability, mutual trust, and Indo-Pacific stability

Defence and Technology Agreements as the Driving Force

• Since the India–U.S. civil nuclear deal, bilateral relations have been increasingly anchored in defence and technology cooperation
• Key agreements shaping military interoperability and trust include LEMOA (2016), COMCASA (2018), and BECA (2020), enabling logistical support, secure communications, and geospatial data sharing
• The INDUS-X framework (2023) and the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET, 2023) have expanded collaboration in innovation, defence startups, and advanced technologies
• In 2024, India’s Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Department of Defense signed the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA), strengthening defence industrial resilience
• Despite recurring political headwinds, defence cooperation has remained stable, institutionalised, and forward-looking

Deepening Strategic Convergence and Regional Impact

• In October 2025, a 10-year Defence Framework Agreement was signed by Rajnath Singh and U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, marking a new phase of long-term strategic coordination
• The agreement aims to enhance information sharing, technological collaboration, and regional deterrence in the Indo-Pacific
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signed a billion-dollar deal with General Electric in November 2025 for fighter jet engines, signalling deep defence-industrial integration
• The NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, launched in July 2025, strengthened cooperation in disaster management, agriculture, and infrastructure planning
• At the regional level, the Quad Ports of the Future Conference, held during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, brought together delegates from 24 Indo-Pacific partners
• Co-organised by India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Ministry of External Affairs, the conference underscored quality infrastructure and regional connectivity as an emerging pillar of Quad cooperation

Build deeper institutional understanding

• Enduring institutional engagement sustains India–U.S. ties despite political challenges and leadership-level volatility
• The relationship operates on a dual-track dynamic: strategic diplomacy at the political level, continuity through bureaucratic and institutional frameworks
• Core collaborations in defence and technology continue to evolve, driven by shared regional interests
• Institutional continuity acts as a key strength, fostering trust and insulating cooperation from short-term political shifts
• Constraints remain, including domestic regulatory hurdles and technology interoperability concerns
• Analysts caution that full momentum may be difficult to restore even if trade disputes are resolved
• Looking toward 2026, both countries must invest in deeper institutional literacy across sectors, not limited to defence
• Greater understanding of structures, processes, and decision-making cultures is essential for resilient partnerships
• Expanding cooperation into non-traditional and civilian sectors can strengthen mutual trust, especially during political downturns

Conclusion

The resilience of the India–U.S. partnership rests largely on the strength of its parallel institutional tracks, which have, often away from public attention, sustained the relationship’s strategic depth and continued relevance amid a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. Even when high-level political engagements slow or pause, institutional mechanisms ensure that dialogue persists, cooperation continues in areas of shared interest, and long-term partnerships remain intact, enabling the relationship to withstand short- and medium-term challenges.