"US fortunate to have a partner like India": Under Secretary Rogers, Ambassador Sergio Gor advance strategic partnership in Delhi
New Delhi, June 5
The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening strategic ties with India across critical sectors, including digital infrastructure, research collaboration, intellectual property, and agricultural trade, following a high-level visit by the US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, Sarah B Rogers.
Rogers concluded her visit on May 29 after a series of engagements aimed at strengthening the growing US-India partnership, according to the press release by the US Embassy in New Delhi.
The visit comes amid increasing diplomatic activity between the two countries and follows the arrival of US Ambassador Sergio Gor earlier this year.
Highlighting the importance Washington places on its relationship with New Delhi, Ambassador Gor said, "Visitors like Under Secretary Rogers are here because we care, because we want to work with India, we want to grow this partnership."
A key focus of the visit was the implementation of the 2025 POTUS-Modi Joint Statement and the advancement of the Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) initiative. Rogers and Ambassador Gor visited the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, where they engaged with around 300 leaders from academia, industry and the media.
The discussions centred on research commercialisation, innovation and collaboration in advanced technologies and pharmaceuticals. Speaking at IIT Delhi, Rogers underscored the value of the bilateral partnership.
"The United States is fortunate to have a partner like India with whom we can pursue secure, trusted research at the cutting edge of technology and pharmaceuticals, alongside mutually beneficial trade and talent exchanges," she said.
The visit also featured a series of public diplomacy engagements at the American Center in New Delhi, the US Embassy's principal public outreach platform. Rogers participated in a roundtable discussion on subsea cable infrastructure, advocating the use of trusted suppliers to safeguard critical global data networks from security threats and adversarial interference.
She also addressed alumni of US government exchange programmes, emphasising the importance of maintaining a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific region.
Another notable event during the visit was a screening of the classic film Jailhouse Rock, which was preceded by a discussion on intellectual property rights involving representatives from the US Patent and Trademark Office and YouTube Music. The event highlighted growing cooperation between the two countries in fostering innovation and protecting intellectual property in the digital era.
In the area of trade and agriculture, Rogers toured a "Taste of America" showcase promoting US agricultural products, including pecans and poultry, reflecting efforts to expand bilateral agricultural commerce and enhance market access.
The visit concluded with Rogers attending a Freedom 250 reception alongside leaders from industry, media, alumni networks, and local communities. The event served as a platform to reaffirm the United States' long-term commitment to strengthening relations with India across economic, technological, educational, and strategic domains.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting that they mentioned subsea cable security. With Chinese interference in our neighbourhood, it's crucial we build secure digital infrastructure. But I hope we're not just replacing one dependency with another - we need to develop our own trusted tech ecosystems too. #DigitalIndia 🇮🇳
The TRUST initiative sounds promising - combining US innovation with Indian engineering talent could solve some serious global challenges. I'm particularly interested in the research collaboration at IIT Delhi. Let's hope this goes beyond photo ops and actually results in breakthrough projects.
While strategic partnerships are welcome, we must remember that India's interests come first. The US needs us as much as we need them - especially in the Indo-Pacific context. Let's not be too quick to sign everything they propose; every agreement needs careful scrutiny. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
The agricultural trade aspect is significant - we could learn a lot from US farming technology and supply chains. But we must protect our small farmers and ensure any trade deals don't hurt our domestic agriculture sector. Balance is key. 🤔
I appreciate the focus on intellectual property protection - that's crucial for Indian startups and creators to compete globally. But let's be honest, US companies have been aggressive with IP claims against Indian firms. The partnership needs to be genuinely reciprocal, not just words.
S We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.