US defence bill boosts India ties, strengthens Quad and strategic cooperation
The US National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 underscores the deepening of strategic and defence cooperation with India, including through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific and counter China’s growing influence in the region.
Released by Congressional leaders on Sunday, the NDAA lays out the “sense of Congress on Defence Alliances and Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region” and emphasises that the US Secretary of Defence should continue efforts to strengthen regional alliances and partnerships. Among the priorities, the bill specifically mentions broadening US engagement with India through bilateral and multilateral military exercises, defence trade, humanitarian aid collaboration, disaster response, and enhanced maritime security.
The Quad, comprising India, the US, Japan, and Australia, was established in 2017 as a platform to address security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. The NDAA calls for expanding cooperation with India through the Quad, as well as other regional frameworks, to reinforce strategic coordination and operational readiness.
A key element of the legislation is a security initiative aimed at strengthening the defence industrial bases of the US and allied nations, including India. The initiative seeks to enhance interoperability of forces, secure critical defence supply chains, expand capacity and capability, and develop skilled workforces. Through this framework, India and other partners such as Japan, Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, and New Zealand can engage in joint development of military technology, collaborative production, and resilience-building measures.
On the civilian nuclear front, the NDAA proposes a joint consultative mechanism under the US-India Strategic Security Dialogue to assess India’s nuclear liability rules and their alignment with international standards. This mechanism, part of the implementation of the 2008 US-India Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, will review opportunities for India to harmonise its domestic laws with global norms. The aim is to facilitate civilian nuclear cooperation, support foreign investment in India’s nuclear sector, and ensure safe and secure deployment of nuclear energy projects. The Secretary of State is required to submit a report within 180 days of the Act’s enactment and annually for five years.
The NDAA also provides a clear definition of “ally or partner nation,” explicitly listing India alongside OECD member states and other countries designated by the US Secretary of State. This underlines India’s central role in Washington’s strategic vision for the Indo-Pacific.
Analysts say the legislation reflects a multi-layered approach to US-India engagement: maritime security cooperation, joint defence industry initiatives, Quad-level strategic coordination, and civilian nuclear energy collaboration. Together, these measures are intended to boost interoperability, strengthen supply chains, and enhance collective regional security in response to evolving threats, particularly from China.
By formally linking defence, industrial, and nuclear collaboration, the NDAA 2026 signals a long-term US commitment to India as a key partner in regional stability and global strategic initiatives, reinforcing their shared vision of a free, secure, and resilient Indo-Pacific.