EAM S. Jaishankar Engages with US NSA Jake Sullivan; Focuses on Bilateral Relations
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New Delhi, Jan 6 (NationPress) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar met with US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan in New Delhi on Monday to explore a broad spectrum of strategic, regional, and bilateral matters.
This meeting coincided with Sullivan's two-day visit to India, marking one of his final prominent activities as the outgoing US NSA before the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States on January 20.
The purpose of Sullivan's visit is to evaluate the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), a crucial partnership framework designed to enhance the strategic relationship between the two countries.
His agenda includes discussions with NSA Ajit Doval and a tour of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, where he will engage with young Indian entrepreneurs and deliver a keynote on the bilateral innovation alliance under the iCET.
During his talks with Doval, Sullivan is anticipated to focus on the execution of iCET initiatives, which encompass collaboration in sectors such as space, defense, strategic technology, and shared security goals in the Indo-Pacific region.
Both NSAs have previously emphasized the transformative power of iCET in fortifying the India-US partnership. In a roundtable held in June 2024, NSA Doval highlighted the necessity of leading in emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and biotechnology, to safeguard shared value systems.
"iCET has surpassed our expectations," Doval remarked, pointing out advancements in the defense innovation roadmap and the rapidly growing semiconductor sector.
Sullivan has echoed these thoughts, noting that innovation, production, and deployment are the three pillars of their technology partnership while stressing the significance of government backing for private sector initiatives.
This visit follows EAM Jaishankar's recent six-day journey to the US, where he met with various senior officials from the Biden administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan, to review the progress made in the India-US partnership over the previous four years.
"It was great to meet US NSA Jake Sullivan in Washington DC this morning. We had a comprehensive discussion on the advancement of the India-US strategic partnership and exchanged views on current regional and global issues," Jaishankar posted on X following their meeting.
The iCET, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden in May 2022, has been recognized as a pivotal element of the India-US strategic alliance, facilitating progress in critical sectors like defense, semiconductors, and Artificial Intelligence.
As Sullivan concludes his visit, the discussions are expected to pave the way for ongoing collaboration under the Trump administration, with both nations ready to deepen their strategic and technological relationships.
