‘India-US Army Partnership Has Never Been Stronger’: Secretary P. Driscoll Meets COAS Dwivedi In New Delhi

The India-US defence partnership continues to grow stronger at the military level. On January 25, 2026, US Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi in New Delhi. This high-level engagement comes as both countries build momentum in defence cooperation through arms deals, joint exercises, and long-term strategic frameworks, despite occasional disagreements on trade issues. The talks underscore how army-to-army ties remain a key pillar of the broader strategic relationship in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Indian Army said the talks focused on enhancing defence cooperation, improving military engagement, and reaffirming a common commitment to global peace and security. Sharing the details on X , the Additional Directorate General of the Indian Army wrote “ US Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll called on COAS General Upendra Dwivedi at Army Headquarters in New Delhi.  Both sides discussed strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, Deepening military-to-military engagement,reinforcing the shared commitment of both armies to global peace and security” 

Following the meeting Driscoll said in a post on X “It was an honor to meet with my counterparts in the Indian Army today for a series of productive discussions. As we work to advance our bilateral defense cooperation, the partnership between our two great armies has never been stronger”.

On the same day, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described a visit to an AH-64E Apache helicopter alongside Secretary Driscoll as a “powerful symbol” of the India-US defence partnership.

In his X post, Gor said “The Apache visit is a symbol of how the two countries are delivering on the joint vision of Donald Trump and the Prime Minister’s Office for a stronger India-US defence relationship. These cutting-edge American helicopters bolster India’s capabilities, training and technology cooperation, and strengthen security across the region, Gor added.

Background of the Visit
US Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll visit to India was his first major bilateral visit since taking office. It came after a series of high-level defence steps in late 2025.  

In November 2025, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi visited the United States. Both sides discussed to strengthen maritime security, including  improving domain awareness, enhancing interoperability in the Indo-Pacific, coordination on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), Counter-piracy operations and protection of sea lines of communication and undersea infrastructure  

Also in November,The Defence Security Cooperation Agency said the US State Department had approved a broader military sale worth USD 93 million, including 100 Javelin missiles, command-launch units, training aids, simulation rounds, spare parts, and full lifecycle support. The package also covered M982A1 Excalibur precision-guided artillery projectiles.

In October 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth exchanged documents on the framework for the India-US Major Defence Partnership. They also renewed the 10-year Defence Framework Agreement. This gives strong support for deeper and long-term cooperation.

These steps set the stage for Driscoll’s meeting with General Dwivedi. The army-level talks help turn policy agreements into real military actions on the ground.

What It Means Going Forward
US Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll’s bilateral defence talk with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi  is a positive sign for the future. It opens the door for more joint exercises, better training programs, sharing of technology, and improved ability for both armies to work together if needed.  

For India, this adds to its efforts to build strong defence capabilities while keeping strategic independence. The focus on army cooperation complements naval and air force ties in the Indo-Pacific region.  

So far defence and security links between India and the US are kept separate from trade or other differences. This helps steady progress even during tough times.

As defence ties deepen, meetings like this one between Secretary Driscoll and General Dwivedi show the strong foundation of the India-US army partnership. Both sides remain committed to working together for peace, security, and shared goals in a changing world. This steady engagement benefits both nations and the wider region.  

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Shoaibur Rahman

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