Indian envoy Vinay Kwatra meets US Speaker Mike Johnson, discusses counterterrorism, trade and technology ties

Indian ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra met the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson , on Capitol Hill on Tuesday in a high‑level diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between the two democracies. Kwatra described the meeting as an honour and expressed “ deep appreciation ” for Johnson’s support for bolstering the India‑US bilateral relationship, reflecting the growing depth and maturity of ties between the world’s two largest democracies.

During the interaction, the Indian envoy thanked the Speaker for his solidarity with India following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, underscoring the shared commitment of both countries to combat terrorism in all its forms and to enhance cooperation on security challenges.

Kwatra briefed Johnson on the broad scope of India‑US cooperation, covering strategic, economic and technological domains. He highlighted key areas of the partnership including defence and security cooperation, the expanding energy relationship in oil and gas trade , and collaboration in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The ambassador also spoke about ongoing efforts to advance negotiations toward a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade deal, noting that India remains engaged with American counterparts to find a balanced arrangement.

The meeting with the House Speaker also reflected India’s outreach to US congressional leaders, whom New Delhi views as critical partners in shaping US policy on defence, trade and foreign relations, and as essential for sustaining bipartisan support for the strategic partnership.

Earlier in the visit, Kwatra toured the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center Think Lab in Westchester, New York, to witness cutting‑edge research in quantum computing . He discussed IBM’s expanding footprint in India and India’s National Quantum Mission, a major initiative aimed at building world‑class research collaborations and innovation hubs in quantum technologies. The ambassador also met prominent AI experts , with whom he spoke about the future of artificial intelligence and India’s priorities for leveraging AI for national development.

The engagements in Washington and New York underscore India’s continued focus on deepening strategic, economic and technological cooperation with the United States, encompassing everything from counterterrorism cooperation and defence ties to energy security and next‑generation technology collaboration.