Foreign Secretary Misri kicks off visit to US with meet on critical technologies

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri kicked off his US visit with a meeting on cooperation in critical and emerging technologies.

Misri met the US State Department Under-Secretary in the US Department of Commerce. The Indian Embassy in the US posted on X saying Misri met Jeffrey Kessler.

The meeting was to “advance cooperation in critical & emerging technologies. They also discussed early convening of the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue to deepen tech & trade collaboration,” the Indian Embassy post said.

Kessler heads the Bureau of Industry and Security. It is tasked with advancing US national security, foreign policy, and economic objectives by ensuring an effective export control and promoting continued US strategic technology leadership.

Misri’s three-day visit (May 27-29) is happening amid the unease over US President Donald Trump repeatedly claiming to have brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

Prior to the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “The visit is to engage in discussions with senior US officials and is expected to cover a wide spectrum that would include defence, tariffs on bilateral trade, and energy supplies.

The Ministry said, “His visit aims to build on the momentum from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's February 2025 trip to the US.”

The ocus would be on advancing the India-US multi-sector COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) initiative.

Among the key issues on defence ties is the irksome delay in supplies of the F-414 engines that have to power the Tejas Mark1-A fighter jets. The US firm, General Electric, was to start supplies in 2023. Also, the US firm, General Atomics, the maker of the predator drones, is to provide 31 of their drones that would be used for surveillance.

The India-US COMPACT initiative includes plans for co-production and joint development of military platforms like Javelin missiles, Stryker combat vehicles, and P-8I surveillance aircraft.