Advance tech as the foundation of India-US future relations: NSA Jake Sullivan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan during the latter's farewell visit to India. The meeting, which took place on Monday in New Delhi, also touched upon the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi expressed his appreciation for the deepening partnership between the two nations. "It was a pleasure to meet US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. The India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership has scaled new heights, particularly in technology, defence, space, biotechnology, and Artificial Intelligence. I look forward to building on this momentum to benefit our people and contribute to global good," the Prime Minister wrote.

This visit by Sullivan comes just days before Donald Trump is set to take office as the US President on January 20.

Key Meetings and Discussions

Earlier on Monday, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met his US counterpart at Sardar Patel Bhawan. During an event at IIT-Delhi, Sullivan praised Doval’s pivotal role in advancing the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).

"iCET is a people's initiative, but its foundation owes much to Ajit Doval’s vision. He believed in the transformative potential of this partnership and saw how it could benefit both nations," Sullivan remarked.

He emphasized that the India-US relationship has reached new heights and that advanced technologies should serve as a cornerstone for future cooperation. "Our partnership can make the world a better place for all. Over the years, Ajit and I have built a deeply personal relationship, which has further strengthened our professional collaboration," he added.

Progress in Civil Nuclear Cooperation

Sullivan also highlighted significant progress in civil nuclear collaboration. "The United States is finalizing steps to remove long-standing regulations that have hindered cooperation between India’s leading nuclear entities and U.S. companies," he said.

The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET)

This visit marked the third round of talks under the iCET framework, which aims to bolster collaboration in critical technologies such as AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, and defence innovation. Launched by Prime Minister Modi and US President Joe Biden, iCET has become a central pillar of the India-US strategic partnership. Sullivan’s previous visit to India for iCET discussions took place in June 2024.

Meeting with External Affairs Minister

Sullivan also met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who acknowledged his contributions to strengthening India-US relations. "Delighted to meet US NSA Jake Sullivan in New Delhi today. We continued our discussions on deepening bilateral, regional, and global cooperation. I deeply value his personal contributions over the past four years to forging a closer and stronger partnership between our two democracies," Jaishankar posted on X.

As Sullivan’s farewell visit concludes, the discussions underscore the importance of advanced technology as a key driver for the future of India-US relations.