India, US announce major initiatives to boost tech & defence cooperation

PM meets US NSA, says India committed to boost strategic partnership with US

On Monday, India and the US announced a series of transformative initiatives aimed at deepening cooperation in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, advanced telecommunications, and defence. They also pledged to remove long-standing barriers to strategic trade.

In wide-ranging talks, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan reviewed several key projects, including New Delhi’s planned acquisition of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, the proposed joint manufacturing of Stryker infantry combat vehicles, and negotiations between GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for the co-production of GE F414 engines to power India’s future fighter jets.

The discussions, held under the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) framework, focused on ensuring that technology is designed, developed, and deployed in sync with democratic values. Both sides acknowledged that the future security of the Indo-Pacific depends on the strength of their ties.

It was not immediately known whether the case of the alleged assassination attempt on top Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Panun, designated a terrorist by India, was discussed.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Sullivan.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said Sullivan briefed Modi on the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation, particularly under the iCET such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, telecom, defence, critical minerals, and space, among others.

“The prime minister expressed satisfaction at the speed and scale of the growing bilateral partnership in all areas and the convergence of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the PMO said in a readout.

It said Prime Minister Modi recalled his recent positive interaction with US President Joe Biden at the G7 summit in Italy.