US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker will travel to India from December 7–11 for a series of high-level bilateral engagements aimed at strengthening defense, economic, technology, and Indo-Pacific cooperation between the two strategic partners. The visit underscores Washington’s renewed emphasis on expanding ties with New Delhi across critical sectors, particularly under President Donald Trump’s 2025 national security priorities.

During her stay in New Delhi, Hooker is scheduled to hold detailed discussions with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs. Talks will cover a wide spectrum of issues, including regional security challenges, counterterrorism cooperation, trade and commercial expansion, and emerging technologies shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific.

According to the US Embassy and Consulates in India, Hooker’s interactions in New Delhi will focus on advancing the US-India strategic partnership, boosting American exports to India, and fostering collaboration in frontier sectors such as artificial intelligence, space exploration, and clean energy innovation. Her visit aligns with Washington’s push for a “free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific,” where India remains a central partner.

Apart from New Delhi, Hooker will visit Bengaluru, India’s innovation hub. She will tour the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and meet leading voices from India’s rapidly growing space, energy, and advanced technology industries. This leg of her visit aims to support greater joint research, co-development opportunities, and next-generation technology cooperation.

Hooker’s trip comes shortly after the 21st India-US Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism and the 7th Designations Dialogue, held in New Delhi on December 3. The two sides reviewed evolving threats, including the misuse of modern technologies by terrorist networks. Both nations expressed concern about the growing employment of drones, UAVs, and artificial intelligence for terror activities and emphasized the importance of stronger global norms to address these risks.

India and the US jointly condemned recent terrorist attacks, including the April 22 assault in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and the November 10 incident near Red Fort, New Delhi. They reiterated that perpetrators and their sponsors must face accountability under international law.

During the meetings, the two sides discussed measures to deepen law enforcement coordination, intelligence sharing, judicial cooperation, and capacity-building initiatives. They also reaffirmed the need for enhanced bilateral and multilateral collaboration through platforms such as the UN, Quad, and Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

India welcomed the US State Department’s decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) — a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy — as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), calling it a significant step in countering cross-border terrorism.

Hooker’s visit is expected to further accelerate momentum in the US-India partnership, reinforcing shared commitments to regional stability, democratic values, and a resilient Indo-Pacific order.