AMCHAM hosted a defense roundtable with Mr. S. Paul Kapur, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State, on opportunities to strengthen the U.S.–India defense partnership on June 18th in New Delhi. Mr Michael Fernandez, Chairman – Defense Committee, AMCHAM, National Executive Board Member, AMCHAM, and Country Head India & GBD South Asia, Lockheed Martin India, welcomed participants. Mr. Salil Gupte, Chairman, AMCHAM and President, Boeing India & South Asia, set the context for the session with his opening remarks. Mr. Samit Ray, Co-Chairman – Defense Committee, AMCHAM and Deputy Vice President, Government Affairs, Raytheon Technologies, Mr. Tony Walton, Country Director, India, BAE Systems, Mr. Anubhav Kumar, Head of Strategy and Policy, Boeing India and South East Asia, Mr. Ajay Nijhawan, Head Government Business, Intel India, Mr. Prabudh Sharma, President, Raytheon India and South Asia, Mr. Avik Singh, Executive, Global Government Relations, Raytheon Technologies, and Wg Cdr Rajiv Anand, Senior Director, AMCHAM India, joined the meeting.

The discussion underscored the growing role of American defense companies in advancing shared security interests, expanding defense trade and industrial cooperation, and supporting India’s defense manufacturing ambitions. Participants also exchanged perspectives on enhancing the ease of doing business and fostering a more enabling environment for bilateral defense collaboration. It was reiterated that AMCHAM remains committed to facilitating dialogue that strengthens strategic ties between the United States and India. From the U.S. Embassy the following officials joined the session: CAPT Jeremy Crestetto, Chief, U.S. Military Group, Mr. Nilesh Christian, Deputy Chief, U.S. Military Group, Mr. Matthew Ridgeway, Senior Economic Program Manager, Mr. William Cammett, Space, Science & Technology Officer, and Ms. Anne Nuechterlein, Political Officer.