New Delhi: The National Security Advisor (NSA) of the United States, Jake Sullivan, has deferred his scheduled trip to India this week due to ongoing developments in the Middle East, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the US Embassy in India. The postponement comes as NSA Sullivan looks forward to convening the annual review of the Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) at the earliest possible opportunity.
“Due to ongoing events in the Middle East, NSA Sullivan has postponed his trip to India this week. NSA Sullivan looks forward to holding the Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) annual review at the next earliest possible date and remains personally committed to advancing our deeply consequential and multifaceted partnership with India,” stated the embassy spokesperson.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden also expressed anticipation for the upcoming Quad leaders’ meeting, highlighting the collaborative efforts between the United States and India to realize a shared vision for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Sullivan’s visit to India, initially scheduled for April 17, was rescheduled earlier this year in February due to the global crises in Ukraine and West Asia, which necessitated the rescheduling of the annual iCET review meeting. The iCET initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden in May 2022, aims to facilitate outcome-oriented cooperation in new and emerging technologies, with leadership from the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in India and the US National Security Council (NSC).
In February, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane highlighted the robust defence partnership between India and the US during the second edition of the INDUS-X Summit in New Delhi. Aramane underscored the significance of initiatives such as iCET and the Defence Innovation Bridge, emphasizing their role in fostering collaboration between US and Indian startups in the defence sector.
Meanwhile, in a regular State Department briefing, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller reaffirmed the importance of America’s relations with India, describing the country as an essential strategic partner for the United States.
“So India is the world’s largest democracy, it is an important strategic partner of the United States, and I expect that to remain true,” Miller emphasized during the daily press briefing.
