United States’ National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is currently on a two-day official visit to New Delhi, where he met India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval for extensive discussions on the implementation of the ambitious India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). The visit, accompanied by a delegation of senior US government officials and industry leaders, underscores the ongoing high-level engagement between the two countries. The iCET framework, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joseph Biden during the Quad Summit in Tokyo in May 2022, focuses on collaborations in diverse domains of new and emerging technologies. These include semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, defence innovation, space exploration, and advanced telecommunications. Both NSAs are driving efforts to identify areas of collaboration and set new priorities for the initiative. During the visit, Sullivan and Doval reviewed the progress made under the iCET initiative and discussed bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest. They chaired the first annual review of iCET with an inter-departmental delegation from both countries and are scheduled to address an India-US iCET Roundtable with Industry CEOs. The visit also marks the resumption of India-US bilateral engagement following PM Modi’s re-election for a third term, signaling the commitment to advancing the strategic partnership. Despite challenges in the bilateral relationship, such as the alleged assassination plot against Khalistani separatist figure Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, both countries aim to strengthen ties across various sectors. Sullivan’s visit comes at a crucial time when efforts to expand cooperation in new areas within the iCET framework, such as biotechnology, critical minerals, rare earth processing technologies, digital connectivity, and advanced materials are underway. The ongoing discussions between the two NSAs highlight the importance of collaboration in critical and emerging technologies for the India-US global strategic partnership.
