New Delhi: The United States’ Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, is scheduled to visit New Delhi and Bengaluru from December 7 to 11, in a move aimed at strengthening the US-India strategic partnership, expanding economic cooperation, and fostering collaboration in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and space research. The US Embassy in India issued a statement confirming the visit on Sunday.

During her visit, Under Secretary Hooker will engage with senior Indian officials to discuss a wide spectrum of issues, with particular emphasis on regional security, economic and commercial ties, and shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific region. In New Delhi, she will participate in the Foreign Office Consultations with India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, and other top officials to review bilateral cooperation in key areas such as defense, counterterrorism, trade, and regional stability.

Economic and Technology Cooperation

Hooker’s itinerary in Bengaluru is focused on engaging with India’s technology, energy, and space sectors. She will visit the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and meet with industry leaders to promote innovation in US-India research partnerships. The discussions are expected to explore expanded collaboration in areas such as space technology, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence, reflecting a growing emphasis on high-tech bilateral cooperation.

The visit comes at a time when both nations are seeking to deepen economic and commercial ties, with a focus on increasing American exports to India and supporting trade initiatives that benefit businesses in both countries. According to the US Embassy, the visit is part of a broader effort to advance US President Donald Trump’s priorities for a strong US-India partnership and a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Security and Counterterrorism Agenda

Security and counterterrorism cooperation will also be a key focus of Hooker’s visit. On December 6, just a day before her arrival, India and the United States issued a joint statement unequivocally condemning terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border attacks. The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral cooperation in counterterrorism through platforms such as the United Nations, the Quad, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The statements followed the 21st Meeting of the India-USA Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism and the 7th Designations Dialogue held in New Delhi on December 3. During these discussions, both sides called for the designation of additional affiliates of ISIS and Al-Qa’ida, as well as terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT)and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), along with their supporters, financiers, and backers, under the UN 1267 sanctions regime. This ensures that these individuals and groups face global asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes, strengthening the international counterterrorism framework.

The meetings also addressed recent acts of terrorism, including the Pahalgam attack on April 22 and the Red Fort incident on November 10 in New Delhi, underscoring the shared commitment of India and the United States to ensure accountability for terror acts. Officials emphasized that these cooperative efforts reflect the broad and strategic nature of the India-USA Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, which encompasses security, trade, technology, and regional stability.

Significance of the Visit

Under Secretary Hooker’s visit is seen as a key diplomatic engagement ahead of the upcoming regional forums and global summits in which both nations are active participants. It signals a renewed commitment to:

• Strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties, particularly in emerging technologies.
• Expand collaboration in space research and artificial intelligence, highlighting the growing importance of high-tech cooperation.
• Reinforce counterterrorism measures and intelligence-sharing protocols to tackle threats in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
• Enhance defense and security coordination, ensuring regional stability amid geopolitical challenges.

Officials in both countries view the visit as an opportunity to solidify ongoing projects, explore new trade and technological initiatives, and ensure that strategic dialogues continue to align with shared priorities in the region.

With talks spanning regional security, economic cooperation, technology partnerships, and counterterrorism, Hooker’s visit is poised to further strengthen the multidimensional US-India relationship, reinforcing a partnership that is increasingly pivotal in global geopolitics.

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