US Senator Steve Daines visited India from January 17 to 19 to advocate for better market access for Montana’s pulse crops and reinforce the strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi. A member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Daines met with senior Indian officials, parliamentarians, and business leaders to discuss trade, defense cooperation, and supply chain security.
During the trip, Daines held meetings with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. “I came to India to reaffirm our shared values and strategic partnership while supporting Montana’s pulse crop farmers,” Daines said. He expressed gratitude to Minister Goyal for considering farmers’ concerns and pledged to continue working with President Trump on this priority.
Trade was a key focus of the discussions, with Daines urging Indian officials to support favorable treatment for US pulse crops in future agreements. Montana, the nation’s top producer of lentils, peas, and chickpeas, views India—the world’s largest consumer of pulses—as a vital market. Daines also pushed for expedited progress in ongoing trade negotiations to achieve a fair and reciprocal bilateral trade deal.
Defense cooperation and regional security were other critical areas addressed during the visit. Daines highlighted growing US-India defense ties and the partnership’s role in maintaining a stable, open Indo-Pacific region. Discussions also covered securing supply chains and enhancing collaboration in strategic sectors.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor noted that the visit underscored the importance of consistent high-level engagement between the two countries. “We aim to take the partnership between our nations to the next level, and regular senior-level visits to India are essential,” Gor stated. He added that Daines’ meetings played a key role in advancing bilateral relations.
The visit follows Daines’ letter to President Trump advocating for favorable treatment of pulse crops in upcoming trade agreements. The trip reflects ongoing efforts by the US and India to deepen ties across defense, technology, and trade, while navigating sensitive areas like agricultural market access and tariffs.
