WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States and India should anchor their strategic partnership in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to counter authoritarian governance models and help shape the global digital order, according to a new bilateral report released Tuesday ahead of India’s AI Impact Summit in New Delhi next week.
The report, titled “U.S.–India AI and Emerging Technology Compact,” argues that leadership in artificial intelligence will be decisive not only for economic growth but also for national security and the values that underpin the digital era. It was prepared jointly by the Special Competitive Studies Project and ORF America following months of consultations between experts in both countries.
“I think both countries are really built for this moment,” said Ylli Bajraktari, president of the Special Competitive Studies Project, describing the relationship as a “symmetry of strength.” He said the United States contributes “frontier hyperscale models, frontier R&D, advanced semiconductors,” while India brings “an enormous STEM talent at scale, massive data centres, and a really proven ability to deploy technology at the population level.”
The report emphasizes that the proposed partnership should be based on equality rather than hierarchy.
“The idea is not for India to be a junior partner to the United States, but to combine our strengths and address our gaps,” said Rama Elluru, a senior adviser at the Special Competitive Studies Project and a co-author of the report.
“It’s meant to be complementary, not create a dependency.”
A central recommendation is to move beyond research collaboration and focus on real-world applications. The report calls for the creation of a public-private U.S.–India AI Coalition to prioritize commercial and dual-use technologies in sectors such as healthcare, energy, and maritime domain awareness. It also urges integrating AI cooperation into existing defense dialogues and joint military exercises.
Infrastructure development, particularly in semiconductors, is identified as another pillar of cooperation. The report proposes building a binational “AI stack” that spans data centers, cloud services, connectivity, and hardware, which could be offered to countries in the Global South as a trusted alternative to adversarial technology ecosystems. Aligning semiconductor incentives and establishing new financing mechanisms to accelerate AI infrastructure projects are also recommended.
Talent development and standards-setting feature prominently in the report. Elluru said India’s advantage lies in the “enormous quantity as well as quality” of its AI talent and data.
“Their data sets are very unique in that they’re not only large, but they’re very diverse,” she said, adding that India’s proven ability to deploy technology at population scale is a significant strength. The report recommends joint labor-market mapping and standardized certification systems to enable smoother movement of talent between the two countries.
Strategic competition with China underpins much of the report’s urgency. Bajraktari warned that Beijing’s centralized system enables rapid execution once a national strategy is defined.
“The United States alone cannot compete against China. That’s why we have allies. That’s why we have partners,” he said.
Elluru added that deeper U.S.–India coordination could help keep authoritarian digital platforms out of emerging markets while giving India a stronger role in setting global agendas, rather than serving solely as a market.
Both authors said the upcoming AI Impact Summit in New Delhi closely aligns with the report’s priorities. Bajraktari noted that the summit’s focus on “AI impact for good” reflects the report’s emphasis on productivity and societal benefits, while Elluru said the event is expected to be the largest global AI summit to date, with a strong focus on inclusivity and practical outcomes.
On regulation, Elluru said the two countries share a similar philosophy. “Both sides want to let innovation flourish and see what safeguards we need instead of the other way around,” she said.
The report was developed through Track 1.5 dialogues held in Washington and New Delhi, involving more than 120 participants from government, industry, academia, and civil society. Its findings are intended to inform bilateral discussions and policy engagement leading up to the AI Impact Summit scheduled for February 2026 in India. (Source: IANS)
