US NSA Jake Sullivan To Visit India Next Week, Likely To Meet Ajit Doval For Talks On Defence, Tech: Report

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is set to visit India to enhance cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and advance technology collaboration. The visit follows Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra's trip to the US.

File Photo of US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval ( Image Source :ANI )

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is scheduled to travel to India next week to engage in discussions aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two nations in the Indo-Pacific region and advancing technology collaboration. The visit aims to bolster the US-India relationship, with Sullivan set to meet his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval and other officials. Sullivan's visit follows Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra's recent trip to the United States, where he held meetings with senior officials and industry leaders to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defence and technology sectors.

According to a senior White House administration official, Sullivan's agenda includes celebrating aspects of the bilateral relationship, exchanging perspectives on the Indo-Pacific, and exploring opportunities for further technological collaboration, news agency PTI reported. However, the specific date of his visit has not been disclosed.

Sullivan is likely to meet Doval for the annual review meeting for the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (iCET) which was postponed due to the cancellation of his visit in February due to other global commitments, PTI reported. 

In a background press call previewing Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's official visit to the US, the senior administration official highlighted the significance of the US-India relationship. Regarding India's role in the Indo-Pacific and security partnerships, the official emphasised the growing closeness between the two countries, as per PTI's report.

"I think the US-India relationship is trending substantially in a positive direction, and our level of engagement across every possible vector — security, intelligence, technology, people-to-people — has excelled," the official stated, as quoted by PTI.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin also underscored the importance of enhancing India's military capabilities to maintain stability in the broader Indo-Pacific region. During a Congressional hearing, Austin emphasised the collaboration between the US and Indian militaries to enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean.

US-India Bilateral Ties

Furthermore, the senior White House official acknowledged the increasing engagement between India and other countries, both independently and in collaboration with the United States. The official noted the significant desire for engagement with India on the global stage.

"In many respects, engagement with India is some of the most desired kinds of engagements on the global stage," the official remarked, as per the report.

Reflecting on the evolving relationship between the two countries, the official highlighted a shift from past ambivalence to a mutual recognition of the potential and promise of the US-India partnership. The active involvement of the diaspora community and technology firms has further contributed to strengthening ties between the two nations.

"I see the engagement with India as central to everything that we’re seeking to do on the global stage. In many respects, it will be our most important bilateral partnership heading into the latter parts of the 21st century," the official concluded. 

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