Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s re-election for his third term, ongoing discussions have taken place between India and the United States to enhance cooperation in high technology sectors. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan visited New Delhi to meet with Prime Minister Modi, Indian Foreign Minister, and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to reaffirm both nations’ commitment to strengthening technological ties.
During their meeting, Prime Minister Modi expressed India’s dedication to further enhancing the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership for the benefit of global welfare. Sullivan’s primary objective was to engage in discussions with Ajit Doval about an initiative launched by the two countries in January last year, focusing on collaboration in high-technology areas such as defense, semiconductors, 5G wireless networks, and artificial intelligence to counter China and bolster the strategic partnership.
According to Manoj Joshi, a Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, Sullivan’s early visit in Modi’s new administration signifies the U.S.’s desire to maintain high technology partnership momentum. A joint fact sheet released by the two countries following Sullivan’s meeting with Doval revealed a new strategic semiconductor partnership between U.S. and Indian companies for precision-guided ammunition and other national security-focused electronics platforms. They have also agreed to co-invest in a lithium resource project in South America and a rare earths deposit in Africa to diversify critical mineral supply chains and explore the potential co-production of land warfare systems.
Additionally, there are efforts to reduce India’s dependence on imported arms and expand its domestic defense manufacturing sector, making technology a top priority. Foreign Minister Subrahmanyan Jaishankar, who remains the external affairs minister in Modi’s new administration, also met with Sullivan during his visit to signal a continuation in the country’s foreign policy. According to the White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby, Sullivan’s trip to India is crucial in further strengthening the already robust U.S.-India partnership, which has expanded in recent years, particularly in response to mutual concerns about an assertive China.
Despite recent challenges, such as an Indian national being charged with attempting to hire a hitman to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in the U.S., concerns about potential strain in bilateral ties, and India’s denial of involvement in these incidents, analysts in New Delhi believe that these challenges are unlikely to significantly impact ties. The U.S. has emphasized the importance of its relationship with India, and a failed conspiracy is not expected to derail ties between the two nations.