India is maintaining continuous high-level discussions with the United States to finalise a trade agreement that benefits both nations, according to the country's top envoy in Washington. The push for stronger economic ties coincides with a landmark achievement in space collaboration, highlighting the multifaceted partnership.
Steady Pursuit of a Balanced Trade Agreement
India's Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, stated that New Delhi remains persistently engaged with the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The objective is to arrive at a trade arrangement that is both balanced and mutually advantageous at the earliest possible time.
He emphasised that the positive tone for the bilateral relationship in 2025 was established during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in early February. That visit, which included a meeting with US President Donald Trump soon after his second-term inauguration, resulted in a substantial outcome document covering various sectors, including space.
A Landmark Year for US-India Space Collaboration
Ambassador Kwatra described the successful launch of an American satellite by India as a major milestone. On Wednesday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) used its heaviest rocket, the LVM3-M6, to precisely place the next-generation commercial communication satellite BlueBird-6 (Block-2) into orbit.
This satellite was developed by AST SpaceMobile of the USA. The mission was historic as the LVM3 carried the heaviest commercial satellite ever launched from Indian soil, proving its reliability as a heavy-lift vehicle for global clients.
This launch caps a series of successful joint space endeavours in 2025, which the leaders had hailed as a "pioneering year" for civil space cooperation. Key achievements include the Axiom-4 Mission that took Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS), marking India's first human spaceflight to the ISS.
Furthermore, the advanced Earth observation satellite, the joint ISRO-NASA NISAR mission, has been successfully launched and made operational. The leaders have also called for expanded collaboration in areas like long-duration human spaceflight, spaceflight safety, and commercial space activities including space tourism and manufacturing.
Broadening the Tech and AI Partnership
Beyond space and trade, technology remains a central pillar of the India-US engagement. Ambassador Kwatra highlighted proactive work in science, technology, and artificial intelligence. India is collaborating with a wide range of US stakeholders from the government, private sector, and think tanks to ensure substantial American participation in the upcoming AI Impact Summit.
This significant event is scheduled for February 19-20 in New Delhi. It will be the first major AI summit hosted in the Global South, following similar summits in Bletchley Park (UK), Seoul, and Paris.
The ambassador noted that most of the ambitious goals plotted in the space sector at the start of the year have been successfully realised within ten months, demonstrating the robust and actionable nature of the bilateral strategic partnership.
