By: Ylli Bajraktari and Dhruva Jaishankar
The following piece originally appeared in Project Syndicate on May 1, 2026.
Artificial intelligence has moved from Silicon Valley to the center of global politics and economics. It is now the primary theater of 21st-century strategic competition, shaping everything from weapons systems to scientific discovery, while fundamentally restructuring labor markets. The country — or partnership — that scales up AI development and adoption will command the geopolitical high ground.
In this respect, no bilateral relationship is more consequential than the one between the US and India. After a tense episode last year, when tariffs and other slights rankled political leaders on both sides, the US and India announced an interim bilateral trade agreement this February. Both countries now have a major opportunity to cooperate more closely on AI. But they must move beyond the rhetoric of shared values to building shared infrastructure. Together, they can define the standards, supply chains and security protocols of the AI age before their adversaries do.
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