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New Delhi: From December 7th to 11th, India is set to host an important diplomatic visit as United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, arrives in New Delhi and Bengaluru. The US Embassy and Consulates in India announced the high-stakes visit of the US Under Secretary.
Under Secretary Hooker's visit to India is considered an effort to fortify the US-India strategic partnership across a spectrum of critical domains. According to the embassy sources, Under Secretary Hooker's comprehensive itinerary is meticulously designed to accelerate the US-India alliance. The primary focus of the visit is said to be on deepening economic and commercial bonds, including a strategic push to enhance American exports.
Also, a significant pillar of her visit will be to ignite greater collaboration in cutting-edge technological frontiers, specifically in artificial intelligence and the vast realm of space exploration between the two countries.
Her journey kicks off in New Delhi, where she is slated for crucial dialogues with senior Indian officials. These discussions are expected to cover a broad spectrum of mutual interests, from bolstering regional security and fostering economic cooperation to advancing shared priorities for a free and open Indo-Pacific. A cornerstone engagement will be the Foreign Office Consultations with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Following her engagements in the national capital, Under Secretary Hooker will travel to Bengaluru, India's vibrant tech hub. Here, innovation will take centre stage as she plans to visit the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Her schedule also includes key meetings with influential leaders from India's burgeoning space, energy, and technology sectors. The overarching goal in Bengaluru is to cement US-India research partnerships and explore untapped avenues for profound cooperation in these forward-looking industries.
This visit is framed as a crucial step forward in advancing President Trump’s administration's vision for a robust US-India partnership.
The timing of Under Secretary Hooker's India visit is particularly salient, coinciding with ongoing, intensive negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement between Washington and New Delhi.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently affirmed that both nations are in the "advanced stages of discussions" for the proposed deal. Five important rounds of negotiations have already concluded for the initial phase of this landmark agreement, with discussions continuing apace.
While expressing cautious optimism, Goyal also emphasised India's strategic patience, stating at the ET Startup Awards that India "will not do any deal in a hurry or with a 'gun to our head'."
