New Delhi: The US and India are planning to strategically align critical and emerging technology as the “next logical step” in an effort to “elevate” their bilateral ties as the next big milestone after the 2005 nuclear deal, multiple sources told ABP Live. Keeping China and the growing geopolitical tensions “in mind”, New Delhi and Washington have decided to align critical technology like artificial intelligence in all aspects of the bilateral relationship, with a particular focus on defence industrial cooperation, according to a senior Biden administration official.
Addressing a select group of journalists after the meetings between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his American counterpart Jake Sullivan ended in Washington, the official said both sides will now work expeditiously to give shape to the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology, or iCET, which was launched in May 2022 by US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Biden administration sees iCET as the “logical step” in the India-US strategic ties even as Washington is concerned about the regulatory challenges that can be posed from New Delhi’s side owing to policy hurdles, according to another US government official. However, the official said, both sides are working on a war-footing to remove all regulatory and policy barriers in order to collaborate in area such as quantum coordination, high performance computing, artificial intelligence, jet engines and munition related technologies, and other systems.
According to the US government official, while this is been done “keeping the China challenge in mind”, the iCET will be “larger” than that. “This is about both like-minded countries coming together,” the official said.
“Honored to welcome Indian National Security Advisor Doval to the White House to launch the next milestone in the U.S.-India strategic technology and defense partnership. Together, we will deliver for our people and economies, and continue to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Sullivan said in a tweet.
NSA Doval was in the US to meet Sullivan in order to give shape the iCET. Both NSAs co-chaired the first meeting of the iCET.
“iCET aims to position the two countries as trusted technology partners by building technology value chains and support the co-development and co-production of items. It also aims to address regulatory restrictions, export controls and mobility barriers through a standing mechanism,” said a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs Tuesday.
It also said: “The US side also assured support to ease export barriers to India in a few critical areas, including through efforts towards legislative changes.
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Taking Defence Collaboration To ‘Different Level’
In the field of defence manufacturing, the two sides agreed to focus on joint production of key items of mutual interest.
According to a White House Factsheet, both NSAs have decided to develop a new bilateral ‘Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap’ to accelerate technological cooperation between both countries for the joint development and production, initially focussing on projects related to jet engines.
“The US committed to expeditious review of the license application submitted by General Electric to produce jet engines in India for the indigenously manufactured Light Combat Aircraft. A new Innovation Bridge will be created to connect defence start-ups on both sides,” said the MEA.
Defence start-ups between both countries will be promoted under a new ‘Innovation Bridge’ programme.
Both countries have also decided to enhance long-term research and development cooperation mainly in maritime security and intelligence surveillance reconnaissance (ISR) operational use cases, the White House said.
Semiconductor Supply Chains To Be Aligned
It was agreed to constitute a task force involving India’s Semiconductor Mission, the India Electronics Semiconductor Association (IESA) and the US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) to develop a "readiness assessment” to identify near-term opportunities and facilitate longer-term development of semiconductor ecosystems.
According to the US government officials quoted above, apart from defence cooperation, the iCET will also focus on supporting semiconductors supply chains in India and manufacturing of chips.
“Both countries intend to promote the development of a skilled workforce that will support global semiconductor supply chains and encourage the development of joint ventures and technology partnerships on mature technology nodes and packaging in India,” said the White House.
The next round of the iCET meeting will be held in New Delhi later this year.