NEW DELHI, Aug 25: India and the United States have discussed ways to expand practical cooperation across the Indian Ocean region, with a focus on maritime security, strategic infrastructure and connectivity.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a telephone conversation with US Under Secretary of State Allison M Hooker to advance discussions under the India-US Indian Ocean Strategic Venture (IOSV), the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the two officials explored areas where New Delhi and Washington can work together while complementing regional priorities.
“Both sides discussed opportunities for practical cooperation and complementarity in the Indian Ocean Region, including maritime security, strategic infrastructure and connectivity, in line with the priorities of partner countries,” Jaiswal said in a social media post.
The discussion comes as the two countries seek to strengthen their engagement in the Indian Ocean, an area of growing strategic significance amid evolving security and connectivity challenges.
The IOSV is a bilateral initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump following their meeting in Washington in February 2025.
The initiative seeks to promote closer coordination between India and the US in the wider maritime region while supporting cooperation with partner countries.
Monday’s conversation between Misri and Hooker also underscored the importance of developing practical areas of collaboration that can contribute to regional stability, infrastructure development and improved connectivity.
