USISPF Celebrates America@250 at IX Leadership Summit, Honors Business and Public Leaders, Launches Second Edition of We The People

The U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) successfully convened its IX Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., bringing together senior government officials, business leaders, policymakers, diplomats, academics, and strategic experts to reaffirm the strength and future of the U.S.-India partnership and to celebrate America@250.

As the United States gets set to ring in the fourth of July festivities, the Summit commemorates the United States’ 250th anniversary and the enduring relationship between the world’s oldest and largest democracies. 

Discussions through the day spanned bilateral trade, defense cooperation, critical and emerging technologies, energy security, advanced manufacturing, resilient supply chains, and cross-border investment.

The Summit commenced with a closed-door discussion between USISPF Board Members and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer, who just returned from India and briefed members on the progress of ongoing U.S.-India trade negotiations and efforts to conclude an interim trade agreement.

USISPF welcomed Ambassador Sergio Gor, U.S. Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asia; Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Ambassador of India to the United States; and Ambassador Mark D. Wiseman, Ambassador of Canada to the United States.

Commenting on his return to the United States for Freedom 250, Ambassador Sergio Gor, remarked, “U.S. and India have “a bilateral trade goal of over $500 billion over the next few years; that is an astounding number that is unmatched. We are ready to do so much with India. India exports more to the United States than anywhere else by far. When it comes to defense exercises, we have more defense exercises together than any other country India participates with”.

Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra, underscored the remarkable evolution of the bilateral relationship between Washington and New Delhi and stated,‘Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, since 2014, there have been a series of economically transformative measures on the ground that have resulted in the consistently high growth of 7-plus percent, which is uniquely driven by domestic demand. It has externalities, but not really that strong. The Prime Minister has propounded and driven on-ground the initiative of Atmanirbharta, a mixture of self-reliance and self-sufficiency, but an ecosystem that has positive externalities.’

Ambassador Mark D. Wiseman, emphasized the importance of trilateral collaboration among the United States, Canada and India and said, “North America should be viewed as a shining example of how trade integration can benefit countries and indeed citizens across the border. Today $2.4 billion in trade cross the Canada-US border each and everyday, 120 million people cross the border each year”. Touching on India, Ambassador Wiseman, said “What India brings to the table, is an incredibly talented base of human resource, research, flexibility and an ability to innovate very quickly”. Canada is a center for AI research and a center of energy, so there is an important part of the partnership”. 

We saw this in the early days of the outsourcing BPO business, where you could work together for better outcomes and more cost-effective outcomes for North American businesses and Canadian businesses, and at the same time you could also create a growing middle class in India with the great expertise that exists and the great education system that exists in India. I think with AI, what this means is taking that model to the next level, and we have to work together.’

The Summit featured a fireside conversation with Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg, United States Under Secretary of States for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, addressing the audience after the recent success of the Pax Silica Summit. Under Secretary Helberg explored the growing importance of trusted technology partnerships and the role of the United States and India in shaping the future global innovation ecosystem and critical mineral cooperation and stated, “For us, India is a great partner and an early signatory to the Pax Silica declaration and I had the privilege of traveling to India in February for the India AI Impact Summit. We not only marked India’s ascension to Pax Silica, but also published a joint statement on AI opportunity, which ended up shaping the statement that we co-signed with 35 countries last week. The way I think of Pax Silica is a coalition of capabilities, where each countries brings to the table, their unique attributes and capabilities in their own ways. We see technology and AI being significant tailwinds to the global economy”.

USISPF presented its 2026 Leadership Awards to three distinguished global business leaders for their contributions to advancing economic ties between North America and India.

Sunil Bharti Mittal was recognized for his years as the Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, and how he transformed India’s telecommunications landscape:

Mr. Mittal expressed gratitude and said: “Today USISPF honors some of us with a special leadership award and I want to take the opportunity to congratulate Chris and Prem who are my fellow awardees today”. Mr Mittal added “The Indian diaspora of 5 million in the United States acts as a bridge and between the India and the United States and helping the strategic relationship between trade, defense and in higher technologies”

USISPF Board Member Christopher T. Calio, President & CEO, RTX, was recognized as the leader of one of the world’s foremost aerospace and defense company. 

Prem Watsa, Chairman & CEO, Fairfax Financial Holdings has built one of the world’s leading investment and insurance companies. Along with his business acumen, Prem was also honored for his commitment to philanthropy. Accepting the award and in a fireside chat conversation, Prem said, ‘The United States, in my mind, is a fantastic country, 250 years of democracy, the oldest democracy in the world, and India is the biggest democracy. If you put them together, it’s going to be a tremendous opportunity for all of us. India’s opportunity is massive, 300 million in the middle class, going to 600 million, those kind of numbers, massive opportunity. You saw it in China and you’re going to see it in India”

USISPF also presented its Distinguished Public Service Award to Senator Steve Daines of Montana and Senator Mark Warner of Virginia in recognition of their longstanding bipartisan leadership in advancing the U.S.-India strategic partnership.

Senator Mark Warner, co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, said: “For a long time, I have fought to promote the United States and India relationship. In 2005, as Governor, I led the first ever trade delegation from our Commonwealth to India. I remember coming back from the visit with the conviction that the friendship between our two countries was one worth investing in for the long haul”. 

Senator Steve Daines of Montana speaking at his third consecutive USISPF Leadership Summit, reaffirmed the importance of expanding cooperation in trade, agriculture, defense and advanced technologies and said ‘I made two trips to India before I came to the Senate, and two as a Senator. As we think about the geopolitical strategy for the world and think about the United States, we need a highly trusted counterweight as we think about what’s going on with China. 

It’s very clear to me, and I tell anyone who listens to me, when I travel to China, this phone does not go to Beijing with me. It stays on my desk in Washington, DC. When I travel to Delhi or anywhere in India, this phone is with me. It’s just a small example of a highly trusted ally and friend. As we think about strategic partnerships and opportunities, there is only one country in the world, that can match the size and scale of China’s ecosystem, and that is India working with the United States.”

The Summit concluded with the launch of the second edition of We The People – 250 Voices: A Tribute to the 250 Voices that Shaped the U.S.-India Relationship.

The commemorative coffee table book recognizes 250 distinguished individuals whose contributions across diplomacy, business, academia, science, public service, culture and innovation have helped shape one of the world’s most consequential strategic partnerships.