India-US ties under review as Vikram Misri heads to Washington

New Delhi: Foreign secretary Vikram Misri will visit the US from April 8 to 10 for talks aimed at reviewing bilateral ties amid delays in an interim trade deal and Washington's outreach to Pakistan.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Misri will hold consultations in Washington and engage with senior US administration officials across a range of sectors.

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Misri will meet several interlocutors during the visit. US envoy to India Sergio Gor is in the US to debrief leadership on ties with India and is expected to meet President Donald Trump.

"The visit will provide an opportunity to review the full spectrum of India-US bilateral relations and advance ongoing cooperation across key areas," MEA statement said. "During the visit, the foreign secretary will hold discussions with senior officials of the US administration on a wide range of issues, including trade, defence, science and technology, as well as regional and global developments of mutual interest."

The visit follows the external affairs minister's trip to Washington in February and is part of ongoing high-level engagements between the two countries, the ministry said.

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Regional developments are expected to figure prominently in the discussions, including the West Asia conflict, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Indo-Pacific and Afghanistan-Pakistan situation.

India has emphasised the need for early dialogue to ease supply chain disruptions arising from the Iran conflict, which has strained energy supplies to India and other parts of Asia.

The Quad framework is also likely to be reviewed. India is exploring the possibility of hosting a Quad foreign ministers' meeting later this year, which could pave the way for a summit, though no final decision has been taken.