Major announcement under NDAA: India becomes key partner in America’s nuclear and Indo-Pacific strategy

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): The United States has given India a major role in its Indo-Pacific and nuclear strategy through the new National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill states that the U.S. will continue discussions with India on its nuclear liability policy and include New Delhi among the select nations working with Washington to counter China’s increasing challenge in the region.

U.S. congressional leaders have released the joint draft of the NDAA for the 2026 financial year. The legislation gives India a special position in several key U.S. strategies such as civilian nuclear cooperation, defence co-production, and maritime security. This annual bill has been passed for six decades, and it is expected to clear the House by the end of this week.

A major provision in the bill is the creation of a joint consultation mechanism between India and the United States. This mechanism will regularly review the implementation of the 2008 civil nuclear agreement. It will also discuss aligning India’s domestic nuclear liability rules with international standards and develop a strategy for bilateral and multilateral diplomatic engagement on these matters.

For the next five years, the U.S. government will be required to submit an annual report to Congress reviewing these developments. The bill also identifies India as a “partner country” in global civilian nuclear cooperation. Additionally, it directs the administration to create a 10-year strategy to expand U.S. nuclear exports and assess competition from Russia and China.

In the Indo-Pacific section, India has been placed among the primary partner nations along with Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and New Zealand. These countries will work together on defence manufacturing, supply chains, and new technologies.

The U.S. defence secretary will have the authority to sign agreements, provide expert assistance, and connect industries and academic institutions to strengthen joint production and development. Congress has also urged Washington to increase engagement with India through the Quad and other platforms to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. This includes military exercises, defence trade, humanitarian assistance, and maritime security.

To balance China’s growing influence, the bill also approves the creation of a special U.S. envoy for the Indian Ocean region, whose role will be to coordinate American diplomacy in the area. These steps clearly show that India is no longer just a beneficiary of U.S. regional strategy but an essential strategic partner. In recent years, India–U.S. defence ties have strengthened significantly.