Kwatra discusses energy trade, ties with US Deputy Secretary

India’s Ambassador to Washington Vinay Mohan Kwatra met US Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly, and discussed energy security partnership between the two countries.

The meeting came in the backdrop of the proposed bilateral trade deal between India and the US, which, according to an official, is “very near” to concluding. “We are very near as far as the deal is concerned,” the official had said on Friday.

Kwatra in a social media post on Saturday said he had a “fruitful discussion” with Danly on the “India-US energy security partnership as both of them shared their perspectives on recent developments in energy trade and ties”.

Kwatra also met with Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet. The ambassador said the two had a “productive discussion” on the India-US industrial cooperation and how US defence companies have a key role to play in New Delhi's ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat' goals.

Earlier on Thursday, Kwatra hosted Republican Senator from Tennessee Bill Hagerty and his wife Chrissy Hagerty at his residence. “Discussed various facets of our bilateral partnership, including ongoing talks on a mutually beneficial trade deal,” Kwatra said in a post on X.

In February this year, leaders of the two countries had directed officials to negotiate a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). They have fixed a deadline to conclude the first tranche of the pact by the fall (October-November) of 2025. So far, five rounds of negotiations have been completed.

Last month, Union Minister Piyush Goyal led an official delegation to New York for trade talks.