National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met US NSA Jake Sullivan in New Delhi on Monday. The two leaders issued a joint statement after the meeting. The meeting focused on further deepening relations between the two countries, focusing on defense, cyber security and space cooperation. This meeting is being considered an important step towards strengthening bilateral cooperation between India and the US.

Boost to space technology and defence sectors

NSA Sullivan gave a briefing on the Biden administration's updates to the US missile export control policy under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). These changes are expected to significantly boost US commercial space cooperation with India, encouraging greater collaboration in the space technology and defense sectors.

Civil nuclear cooperation also discussed

Further strengthening the growing strategic partnership, NSA Sullivan also announced efforts to finalise steps to free Indian nuclear entities from US sanctions, aimed at furthering civil nuclear cooperation. This change will not only support peaceful nuclear initiatives but will also strengthen clean energy supply, a critical aspect of the future energy strategies of both countries.

Talks on these issues

The high-level talks also covered various areas of mutual interest, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, communications and maritime security. The visit is taking place as part of the ongoing India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET) launched during the Quad summit in May 2022.

The press release said, "Following the launch of the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET) by Prime Minister Modi and President Joseph Biden during the Quad Summit in Tokyo on May 24, 2022, the two NSAs have taken concrete initiatives between the two countries in several areas, including AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, communications, defence and space."

Emphasis on removing rules

Speaking at an event at IIT Delhi earlier in the day, Sullivan said the US was now finalising steps to remove long-standing regulations that have hampered civil nuclear cooperation between India's major nuclear entities and US companies. 

Sullivan also said that his visit to India would likely be his last foreign trip as NSA and he could not think of a better way to end his tenure at the White House