Washington DC, January 8: Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra met US House Speaker Mike Johnson at Capitol Hill on Tuesday, holding wide-ranging discussions aimed at further strengthening the India–US strategic partnership across defence, security, trade, energy and advanced technology.
Sharing details of the meeting on social media platform X, Ambassador Kwatra said he expressed deep appreciation for Speaker Johnson’s support for strengthening bilateral ties, noting that the engagement reflected the growing depth and maturity of relations between the world’s two largest democracies.
During the interaction, Ambassador Kwatra thanked the Speaker for his solidarity with India following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April 2025. He reiterated India’s firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism, underscoring the shared commitment of both nations to combat terrorism in all its forms and to enhance cooperation on security-related challenges.
The Ambassador briefed Speaker Johnson on key pillars of the India–US partnership, including defence and security cooperation, oil and gas trade, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. He also highlighted ongoing efforts by both sides to advance trade negotiations, with a focus on achieving a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement.
Earlier in the day, Ambassador Kwatra visited the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Centre Think Lab, where he witnessed cutting-edge research in quantum computing. He discussed IBM’s expanding footprint in India and the country’s National Quantum Mission (NQM), under which India is taking focused steps to build world-class research collaborations and dedicated innovation hubs.
The National Quantum Mission, approved by the Union Cabinet on April 19, 2023, aims to position India at the forefront of quantum technology research and development. Spanning the period from 2023-24 to 2030-31, the mission has been allocated a budget of ₹6,003.65 crore and seeks to harness quantum technologies to drive innovation, strengthen national security, and boost multiple industrial sectors.
As part of his engagements on advanced technology, Ambassador Kwatra also met renowned AI researcher Professor Yann LeCun. The two discussed the future of artificial intelligence and India’s priorities in leveraging AI for inclusive development.
In recent months, the Ambassador has held several engagements with US lawmakers and technology leaders, including a meeting with Congressman Jay Obernolte to enhance cooperation in science, technology and AI, and discussions with Francis Pedraza of Invisible Technologies on innovation initiatives, including an AI-driven effort to translate ancient Nalanda library texts.
These engagements underscore the expanding scope of India–US cooperation, particularly in strategic, technological and innovation-driven domains.
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