A day following the announcement of the postponement of his trip to New Delhi, the US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, maintains his personal dedication to advancing the significant and diverse partnership with India, as conveyed by a senior administration official on Wednesday.
Sullivan's visit to India for this week was deferred for the second time this year, citing the unfolding events in West Asia amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
As the top national security advisor to US President Joe Biden, Sullivan had plans for extensive discussions with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, focusing on the progress of the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), among other matters.
"The NSA Sullivan eagerly anticipates conducting the iCET annual review at the earliest available opportunity and remains steadfast in his personal commitment to advancing our profoundly significant and multifaceted partnership with India," stated the senior administration official.
The US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), introduced last year, aims to enhance and broaden the strategic technology partnership and defense industrial collaboration between governments, businesses, and academic institutions.
Initiated personally by President Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the iCET was initially announced by the two leaders in May 2022 and formally inaugurated in January 2023.
"Likewise, the President eagerly awaits the forthcoming meeting of the Quad leaders and is committed to furthering our joint efforts with India to achieve outcomes for both the American and Indian people, as well as our allies, in alignment with our collective vision for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific," the official added.
Initially scheduled to convene in India in January, the Quad leaders' summit had to be called off as Washington conveyed its inability for President Biden to travel.
The Quad, also known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, represents a strategic diplomatic security dialogue among Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.
Read also | Indian Woman Stands Firm in Pakistan for Custody of Children
Read also | Initial Jury Panel Assembled for Trump's New York Legal Battle
