NEW DELHI: The United States sees India as central to maintaining a favourable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, a senior Trump administration official said on Tuesday, outlining a roadmap for deeper defence and strategic ties amid shifting global dynamics.Addressing an event at the Ananta Centre, US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby said India’s role is indispensable for regional peace and stability, particularly at a time of rising geopolitical tensions and concerns over China’s growing military assertiveness.”The United States believes that India will play a central role in ensuring a favourable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. In this context, a strong, confident India is not only good for the Indian people. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Amazon Web Services ‘disrupted’ following drone attack in Bahrain; Saudi, UAE mull joining Iran warGulf Allies Edge Toward Conflict: Saudi grants US base access; UAE shuts Iranian assetsPossible US-Iran Talks In Islamabad: White House calls situation ‘sensitive’ and ‘fluid’; oil prices tumbleIt is good for Americans as well,” he said.Colby emphasised that the India-US partnership is anchored in shared strategic interests, even if differences persist.”First, the United States and India do not need to agree on everything to cooperate effectively. What matters is that our interests and objectives increasingly converge on the most fundamental issues,” he said.”Differences and even disputes are fully compatible with deepening alignment and cooperation on strategic matters. The roots of our partnership are deeper than optics and more durable than superficial comity; they are, rather, thickly embedded in lasting strategic mutual self-interest,” he added.Highlighting common goals, Colby said both nations benefit from an Indo-Pacific where no single power dominates, alongside open trade and national autonomy.On defence cooperation, he stressed the need to prioritise tangible capabilities.”In this light, one of the most encouraging developments in recent years has been the steady expansion of defence cooperation between the United States and India”.Quoting US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Colby said bilateral defence ties have never been stronger, with growing momentum in industrial and technology collaboration. He also referred to the ‘Major Defence Partnership’ framework finalised in October.”Our goals should be practical: to ensure that our forces can operate effectively together when our interests align, and in any case to see that India possesses the capabilities necessary to defend its sovereignty and contribute to a favourable regional balance of power,” he said.He added that the US is committed to expanding cooperation in areas such as long-range precision fires, resilient logistics, maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare and advanced technologies.Colby also underlined the importance of co-production and co-development of defence equipment, while acknowledging challenges including regulatory barriers and procurement differences.”But they are not insurmountable and we should overcome them,” he said.He noted that while Washington aims to boost military sales to India, it also supports New Delhi’s push for a stronger domestic defence industry.”A strong domestic industrial base enhances sovereignty and resilience. The United States supports that objective. And India is well on its way,” he said.”India already boasts an impressive defence industrial base and India’s leadership in cutting-edge technologies only further helps broaden our defence cooperation.”Colby reiterated that differences between the two countries are natural and should not hinder cooperation.”Strong partnerships benefit from honesty, respect, and strategic clarity. The truth is that the United States and India will not agree on every issue.””Indeed, in precisely that spirit, we can say without embarrassment that India and America have not always been partners or even friendly. Our histories and strategic cultures are different, and our interests will of course at times diverge,” he said.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS President Trump Dials PM Modi Amid West Asia Conflict, Discusses Strait Of HormuzIndia’s Rafale Marine Deal May Move Faster Than Planned With Trainer Arrival: Reports’India Indispensable To Asia’: Donald Trump’s War Envoy Colby Signals US Shift Amid West Asia CrisisGovt Calls All-Party Meeting To Discuss West Asia Conflict Amid Opposition Uproar”Foreign Policy Is Compromised…” Rahul Gandhi Blasts PM Modi Over West Asia CrisisDelhi Budget: Rekha Gupta Govt Promises Free LPG Cylinders Twice A Year Amid Rising Energy CostsPM Narendra Modi Reveals How Much Oil India Has As West Asia War Disrupts Global Oil SuppliesPM Modi Urges Peace, De-escalation As India Engages Iran, Israel And US To Resolve Energy CrisisManish Tewari Questions Relevance of Budget 2026 Amid Rising West Asia TensionsSupreme Court Raps Forces Over Gender Bias, Orders Justice For Women Officers In Historic Ruling123PhotostoriesFrom gold to copper: 5 smart metal investments to make this NavratriRanveer Singh’s Car Collection: Top 5 cars owned by the actor‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’: All about Sara Arjun, Ranveer Singh’s leading lady in the filmPresident Droupadi Murmu loves Rice Cheela for breakfast: 5 other Odia breakfast dishes that are truly comfortingTesseract: The Geometry of Truth by The Times of India: Honouring the tapestry of art and imagination5 yoga asanas that are good for your heartTravelling in a War Zone: How to stay safe and 5 crucial things to keep in mindTesseract: The Geometry of Truth by The Times of India: Celebration of art, vision, and imaginationEmraan Hashmi birthday special: Looking into the actor’s best performances from ‘Gangster’ to ‘Hamari Adhuri Kahani’Ayodhya real estate boom 2026: 5 high-return investment zones you should know123Hot PicksTrump Iran DealMohammad Bagher GhalibafSan Francisco AirportGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingGolden state warriors vs dallas mavericks injury reportPatrick MahomesJoe MazzullaColombian Military Plane CrashBrittany MahomesWWE Raw News RoundupSilver Rate TodayRajasthan 8th Class ResultTrump Iran DealBihar Board Science Topper
NEW DELHI: The United States sees India as central to maintaining a favourable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, a senior Trump administration official said on Tuesday, outlining a roadmap for deeper defence and strategic ties amid shifting global dynamics.Addressing an event at the Ananta Centre, US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby said India’s role is indispensable for regional peace and stability, particularly at a time of rising geopolitical tensions and concerns over China’s growing military assertiveness.“The United States believes that India will play a central role in ensuring a favourable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. In this context, a strong, confident India is not only good for the Indian people. It is good for Americans as well,” he said.Colby emphasised that the India-US partnership is anchored in shared strategic interests, even if differences persist.“First, the United States and India do not need to agree on everything to cooperate effectively. What matters is that our interests and objectives increasingly converge on the most fundamental issues,” he said.“Differences and even disputes are fully compatible with deepening alignment and cooperation on strategic matters. The roots of our partnership are deeper than optics and more durable than superficial comity; they are, rather, thickly embedded in lasting strategic mutual self-interest,” he added.Highlighting common goals, Colby said both nations benefit from an Indo-Pacific where no single power dominates, alongside open trade and national autonomy.On defence cooperation, he stressed the need to prioritise tangible capabilities.“In this light, one of the most encouraging developments in recent years has been the steady expansion of defence cooperation between the United States and India”.Quoting US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Colby said bilateral defence ties have never been stronger, with growing momentum in industrial and technology collaboration. He also referred to the ‘Major Defence Partnership’ framework finalised in October.“Our goals should be practical: to ensure that our forces can operate effectively together when our interests align, and in any case to see that India possesses the capabilities necessary to defend its sovereignty and contribute to a favourable regional balance of power,” he said.He added that the US is committed to expanding cooperation in areas such as long-range precision fires, resilient logistics, maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare and advanced technologies.Colby also underlined the importance of co-production and co-development of defence equipment, while acknowledging challenges including regulatory barriers and procurement differences.“But they are not insurmountable and we should overcome them,” he said.He noted that while Washington aims to boost military sales to India, it also supports New Delhi’s push for a stronger domestic defence industry.“A strong domestic industrial base enhances sovereignty and resilience. The United States supports that objective. And India is well on its way,” he said.“India already boasts an impressive defence industrial base and India’s leadership in cutting-edge technologies only further helps broaden our defence cooperation.”Colby reiterated that differences between the two countries are natural and should not hinder cooperation.“Strong partnerships benefit from honesty, respect, and strategic clarity. The truth is that the United States and India will not agree on every issue.”“Indeed, in precisely that spirit, we can say without embarrassment that India and America have not always been partners or even friendly. Our histories and strategic cultures are different, and our interests will of course at times diverge,” he said.
