Washington, D.C. [US], December 7 (ANI): United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker will visit New Delhi and Bengaluru from December 7 to 11, the US Embassy announced. Her visit will focus on advancing the US-India strategic partnership, deepening economic and commercial ties, increasing American exports, and fostering collaboration in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and space exploration.
While in New Delhi, Under Secretary Hooker will meet senior Indian officials to discuss regional security, economic cooperation, and shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific. This will include the Foreign Office Consultations with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. In Bengaluru, she will visit the Indian Space Research Organisation and meet leaders from India’s space, energy, and technology sectors to promote innovation in US-India research partnerships and explore opportunities for expanded cooperation, according to the statement.
Under Secretary Hooker’s visit marks another step forward in advancing US President Donald Trump’s priorities for a strong US-India partnership and a free and open Indo-Pacific, the statement added.
Meanwhile, on December 6, India and the United States unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and renewed their commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation in counterterrorism efforts, including through the UN, Quad, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The two countries held the 21st Meeting of the India-USA Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and the 7th Designations Dialogue on December 3. Both sides called for additional designations of ISIS and al-Qa’ida affiliates, as well as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and their proxy groups, supporters, sponsors, financiers, and backers under the UN 1267 sanctions regime, ensuring their members face a global asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo.
India and the United States strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 and the recent terror incident near the Red Fort in New Delhi on November 10, stressing that those responsible must be held accountable.
The meetings underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation in countering terrorism, reflecting the spirit and breadth of the India-USA Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
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