US-India Friendship Strengthens Amid Strategic Talks: White House

GG News Bureau
Washington, 18th June. In a key diplomatic move, the United States and India reaffirmed their strong bilateral ties, characterized as a “unique bond of friendship,” during National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s visit to New Delhi. This marks the first official trip by a senior Biden administration official to India following the reelection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

“As the world’s two oldest and largest democracies, the United States and India share a unique bond of friendship,” affirmed John Kirby, White House National Security Communications Advisor, during a press briefing. Sullivan’s visit, Kirby emphasized, aims to further deepen the robust partnership between the two nations, particularly in enhancing security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

During his stay, Sullivan engaged in pivotal meetings with Prime Minister Modi and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Central to the discussions was the expansion of cooperation through the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). This initiative seeks to bolster strategic collaboration across critical sectors such as space technology, semiconductors, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, biotechnology, and clean energy.

However, the visit was not without its complexities, as Kirby sidestepped questions regarding Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national recently extradited to the US from the Czech Republic. Gupta faces charges related to an alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. Kirby refrained from delving into specifics but reiterated that Sullivan’s primary focus remained on strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in advancing emerging technologies.

Gupta was presented before a federal court in New York, where he entered a plea of not guilty. India, meanwhile, has publicly acknowledged ongoing high-level inquiries into the evidence furnished by the US regarding the alleged assassination plot.

Sullivan’s visit underscores the strategic importance both nations place on their relationship, navigating through diplomatic intricacies while reinforcing their shared commitment to regional stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific.