India, US hold 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue amid tariff tensions

Both nations reaffirmed commitment to deepening bilateral ties and promoting a stable, prosperous Indo-Pacific through the Quad.

With President Donald Trump’s administration all set to impose an additional 25% duty on India’s exports to the United States, senior officials from India and the United States held the virtual 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue on August 25, where they reviewed ongoing initiatives and explored ways to strengthen cooperation across a wide range of areas.

Both sides discussed regional security developments as well as cooperation on trade and investment, energy security, civil nuclear collaboration, exploration of critical minerals, and counterterrorism and counternarcotics initiatives.

The meeting marked the first official-level dialogue since the August 6 announcement by US President Donald Trump’s administration that imposed tariffs on Indian goods, highlighting ongoing engagement between India and the United States, signalling that even if the White House has emphasized US initiatives publicly, the dialogue reflects carefully built institutional cooperation.

“Through this dialogue, officials advanced bilateral initiatives, discussed regional security developments, and exchanged perspectives on a number of shared strategic priorities. They discussed trade and investment; energy security, including strengthening civil-nuclear cooperation; critical minerals exploration; counternarcotics and counterterrorism cooperation; and more,” a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on Tuesday.

The two nations agreed to build upon the progress made in these areas under the auspices of the India-US COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century and beyond. They also discussed ways to increase defence cooperation, including signing a new ten-year Framework for the India–US Major Defence Partnership, as well as advancing defence industrial, science, and technology cooperation; operational coordination; regional cooperation; and information-sharing.

Additional Secretary (Americas) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, and Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) in the Ministry of Defence, Vishwesh Negi, co-chaired the virtual India-US 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue alongside US Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Bethany P. Morrison and Acting Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah P. Royal.