NSA Sullivan wraps up India trip to prepare for PM Modi’s US visit
1 min read 14 Jun 2023, 10:48 PM ISTDoval and Sullivan also discussed regional and global issues and attended an event hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry on iCET.
PremiumNew Delhi: US national security adviser Jake Sullivan met external affairs minister S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval in New Delhi on Wednesday to prepare the ground for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US next week.
“Our conversation focused on preparing for PM Narendra Modi’s visit’s upcoming US visit. Also discussed global strategic developments from the perspective of our partnership," Jaishankar said on Twitter.
“The two NSAs have engaged regularly in extensive discussions on a broad bilateral, regional and global agenda," an Indian press release said.
“The current visit, which comes in the run-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US, will give them the opportunity to continue their high-level dialogue, which will include a review of the robust and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries as well as a survey of the India-US global strategic partnership."
Doval and Sullivan focused on the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), which was unveiled in 2021 to promote bilateral cooperation on developing advanced technologies like 5G, 6G, semiconductors, space and defence technologies. The initiative is driven by the two NSAs.
Doval and Sullivan also discussed regional and global issues and attended an event hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry on iCET.
“They expressed satisfaction at the progress made under iCET and encouraged stakeholders on both sides to strive for technology value chain partnerships that would lead to co-development and co-production of high technology products and services in both countries," the press release added.
There have been numerous reports that Sullivan is in India to finalise a key defence technology deal that will allow General Electric to co-manufacture jet engines in India along with state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
The deal, expected to be announced during Modi’s visit, will mark a major step in India-US defence relationship. Prior initiatives to share defence technology, such as the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), found limited success. Experts say that a technology transfer under this proposed deal with General Electric will see the GE F414 engine manufactured in India. This will place India in an elite list of nations that are capable of manufacturing advanced jet engines.