The White House has expressed that the relationship between India and America is deeper and more expansive than ever, as the US prepares to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi on an official state visit. Speaking at the annual ‘India Ideas Summit’ of the US India Business Council in Washington, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer emphasised the positive strategic consequence of the bilateral ties.
Finer stated that the US and India have significantly aligned and converged on numerous global issues, with mutual benefits for both populations. He highlighted that the forthcoming meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Joe Biden will showcase a modern relationship between two significant countries.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are eagerly anticipating Prime Minister Modi’s visit, which includes an official state visit and dinner at the White House. This will be the third such occasion for the Biden administration, demonstrating the attention to detail and significance attached to the visit.
The Governments of India and the US are working to deepen strategic convergence and strengthen policy alignment, particularly in strategic technology and Defence industrial cooperation. Finer emphasised the commitment to upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific, driving innovation, and jointly tackling global challenges.
Describing India and the US as natural partners, Finer emphasised their readiness to address challenges and seize opportunities together. He highlighted the countries’ joint efforts in areas such as Defence cooperation, strategic technology partnership, and the clean energy transition.
Regarding Defence cooperation, regular consultations between the two countries assess regional developments and establish frameworks for closer cooperation through joint exercises, information sharing, logistics networks, and interoperable communication systems. The US continues to support India as a major Defence partner through Defence industrial cooperation, co-developing and co-producing critical military capabilities.
The Strategic Technology Partnership between India and the US has gained momentum through the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET). This initiative promotes Government, business, and university cooperation in areas such as Defence, space, semiconductors, advanced telecommunications, biotechnology, and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and quantum. The partnership aims to foster an open, accessible, and secure technology ecosystem, including advanced communications alternatives like 5G.