NEW DELHI: US NSA Jake Sullivan and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval committed “concrete action” in coming months against long-standing barriers to strategic trade, technology and industrial cooperation, while pledging to prevent leakage of sensitive technologies to countries of concern, in what was the first high-level engagement between the 2 countries since the return of the NDA government this month.
After several false starts earlier this year, Sullivan finally arrived in India Monday to undertake along with Doval a comprehensive review of cooperation under the initiative on critical and emerging technology (iCET). The initiative is expected to propel the relationship to the next level by removing regulatory barriers and developing a new defence industrial roadmap for joint development and production.
Sullivan also held talks with foreign minister S Jaishankar and called on PM Narendra Modi who said in a post on X India remains committed to strengthening the India-US partnership for global good. Sullivan briefed him about the progress in iCET cooperation in areas like AI, semiconductors, defence and space. In the meeting, Modi expressed satisfaction at the speed and scale of the growing partnership and the convergence on regional and global issues.
The NSAs exchanged views also on issues like the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in Gaza. According to a joint factsheet issued after the NSA meeting, Doval and Sullivan in what was their second iCET talks underscored the vital importance of adapting their “technology protection toolkits’’ and resolved to prevent the leakage of sensitive and dual-use technologies to countries of concern. While neither side identified the countries of concerns, the US has been working to block the flow of technology to Russia, a country India continues to maintain strong defence ties with despite the promise of unprecedented transfer of technology from the US like in the GE-HAL deal for co-production of jet engines.
According to the factsheet titled India and the US will Continue to Chart an Ambitious Course for iCET, Doval and Sullivan stressed the need for continued efforts, particularly under the Strategic Trade Dialogue, to address outstanding barriers to technology collaboration. They acknowledged progress in the GE-HAL jet deal negotiations, India’s planned acquisition of the MQ-9B armed drones and possible co-production of land warfare systems.
In defence, they also focused on deepening cooperation to accelerate the joint adoption of cutting-edge commercial technologies for military solutions and capability enhancement of both defense ecosystems, including through an MoU, and expanding defence industrial partnerships, like through the launch of a jointly developed AI Multi-Domain Situational Awareness product.
“Our work also continues to be anchored in a shared commitment to ensuring that technology is designed, developed and deployed in a manner consistent with our democratic values and respect for universal human rights, as well as a recognition that the future security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific will hinge on the strength of the India-US,’’ said the joint factsheet.
Doval and Sullivan, who twice postponed his visit earlier this year, also underscored their commitment to striving for breakthrough achievements in priority critical and emerging technology areas, by focusing on co-production, co-development and R&D opportunities. They focused on enhancing coordination with like-minded nations to deliver secure, reliable, and cost-competitive technology solutions for the “Indian and American people and our partners around the world’’.