Former G20 Sherpa and NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Monday, 29 June said that deepening ties between India and the United States would serve the interests of both nations, as Washington remains one of New Delhi's most critical trading and investment partners while India steadily consolidates its position as a major global economic power.

Kant's Core Argument

Kant underscored the structural weight of the American economy in making his case for stronger bilateral engagement. 'The United States is a major trading and investment partner of India, and it will be mutually beneficial for both countries if India continues to expand its relationship with America,' he said.

He noted that the US accounts for nearly 26 per cent of global GDP and close to half of the world's total market capitalisation, while also leading on several frontier technologies. 'India's growth trajectory can significantly benefit from deeper engagement with the American market,' Kant added.

India's Economic Ambitions

Kant emphasised that the relationship must be viewed as a two-way street. He argued that the United States equally needs to acknowledge India's rising global stature. India, he said, is on a path to grow from a $4 trillion economy to a $30 trillion economy in the years ahead, in line with the Viksit Bharat vision of becoming a developed nation.

He also pointed to India's democratic credentials and the scale of its recent economic reforms, describing the country as a vibrant democracy that has undertaken some of the world's most significant economic transformations in recent years.

Trump Visit and Trade Talks

Kant's remarks arrive amid fresh signals that US President Donald Trump could visit India early next year, as the two countries continue negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated that Washington is actively working to arrange the visit, and Rubio himself is expected to travel to India later this year to lay the groundwork for it.

This comes amid ongoing efforts by both governments to resolve tariff-related friction points that have periodically strained commercial ties, even as strategic and defence cooperation has deepened considerably over the past decade.

Broader Context

The remarks by Kant — who played a central role in India's G20 Presidency in 2023 — carry weight given his proximity to both the diplomatic and economic policy establishment. India and the US have in recent years expanded cooperation across defence, technology, and critical supply chains, with the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) serving as a key institutional framework.

With a potential Trump visit on the horizon and trade agreement talks underway, the bilateral relationship is entering what analysts describe as a pivotal phase — one that could reshape India's export and investment outlook for the decade ahead.