In a move to ease recent political tensions in South Asia, the United States and India have reiterated their “shared desire to maintain regional stability and peace,” according to a statement from the US State Department.
This follows a recent military clash between India and Pakistan. New Delhi had accused Islamabad—without presenting evidence—of orchestrating a deadly attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. On the night of May 6-7, India carried out a series of airstrikes inside Pakistan, leading to civilian casualties. Pakistan retaliated by shooting down five Indian jets. Both nations also engaged in drone interceptions and reciprocal strikes on each other’s airbases, with the conflict only ceasing after US mediation on May 10.
At the peak of the standoff, President Donald Trump threatened both India and Pakistan with a halt in trade unless they agreed to stop fighting.
A day before the ceasefire, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Washington. The State Department said that Landau emphasized the strong US-India partnership, describing it as a cornerstone of American foreign policy in the 21st century.
The statement highlighted Landau’s focus on ensuring fair and reciprocal market access to boost economic growth in both nations. It also mentioned his push for greater cooperation on migration issues and counternarcotics efforts.
During the meeting, both officials affirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
On X (formerly Twitter), Landau described the US-India relationship as being at a “historic zenith,” calling it a key partnership for the 21st century. He said their discussions centered on expanding fair trade, tackling illegal immigration, and bolstering counternarcotics collaboration.
Earlier this month, President Trump stated that India had offered a trade deal proposing zero tariffs on American goods. However, he expressed frustration over Apple’s plans to invest in India.
New Delhi is working to secure a trade agreement with the US within the 90-day pause on tariff increases that Trump announced on April 9 for major trading partners.
Currently, the US is India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $129 billion in 2024. India maintains a $45.7 billion trade surplus with the US.
