US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby concluded his official visit to India on Thursday. The visit focused on advancing the India-US defence partnership and key elements of the 2026 National Defence Strategy. The official trip, which began on Tuesday, involved high-level consultations with senior Indian officials and strategic discussions on defence cooperation. During his visit, Colby met external affairs minister S Jaishankar and foreign secretary Vikram Misri. He also co-chaired the 18th US-India Defence Policy Group meeting alongside defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. These discussions advanced the Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership, which was signed in October 2025 by US War Secretary Pete Hegseth and defence minister Rajnath Singh.The framework calls for expanding operational coordination, information sharing, regional and global cooperation, as well as defence industrial, science and technology collaboration between the two nations, according to an official statement from Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell. Colby’s visit also included consultations with US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Sergio Gor.At the Ananta Centre in New Delhi, Under Secretary Colby delivered remarks emphasising the durability of the India-US partnership and outlined a framework to guide the two nations’ defence and strategic cooperation. He highlighted that both countries benefit from an Indo-Pacific region where no single power can dominate and reaffirmed the US belief in India’s central role in maintaining a favourable balance of power.“India is a republic of continental scale, with a proud strategic tradition. Its decisions will profoundly shape the future of the Indo-Pacific and the international landscape,” Colby said. “Our two countries differ in history, geography, and perspective, yet we share a fundamental conviction: that the future of Asia should be determined by sovereign nations able to chart their own course.”The Defence Policy Group meeting also covered ongoing defence deals, including India’s plans to acquire six additional P-8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft and purchase Javelin anti-tank guided missiles through an emergency procurement route. Discussions were also held on Excalibur precision-guided artillery ammunition, for which India has signed a Rs 300-crore deal under the emergency route.According to the US Department of War, Colby’s visit is a significant step in operationalising high-level agreements between the two countries and advancing the goals established by President Trump and PM Modi in their February 2025 joint statement.