Iran-Israel Tension: Amid Middle East Crisis, US NSA Postpones India Visit Again
US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan has chosen to postpone his planned travel to India this week due to the continuing happenings in the Middle East. An American Embassy spokesman confirmed the decision.
“NSA Sullivan’s trip to India this week has been postponed due to ongoing events in the Middle East.” “NSA Sullivan remains personally committed to advancing our deeply consequential and multifaceted partnership with India and looks forward to hosting the Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) annual review as soon as possible,” the official said.
The spokesman also expressed excitement about the next Quad leaders meeting, demonstrating the President’s and the US administration’s continued commitment to working with India. Achieving concrete results that assist the people of both countries and advance our common vision of an open, free, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region is the aim.
Sullivan, the senior national security advisor to US President Biden, was scheduled to go to New Delhi on April 17, but the trip was once again canceled because of current world concerns. The iCET annual review conference was rescheduled in the midst of increased hostilities in West Asia and Ukraine. To promote collaboration in emerging technologies, President Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi jointly inaugurated iCET in May 2022. The US National Security Council (NSC) and the National Security Council of India (NSCS) share oversight of iCET.
Defense Secretary Giridhar Aramane emphasized the strong defense cooperation between India and the US at the INDUS-X Summit. He emphasized a number of iCET projects, such as the Defense Innovation Bridge, which is designed to help US and Indian businesses work together.
The spokesman for the US State Department, Matthew Miller, reaffirmed the close bilateral relations between the US and India and emphasized the country’s importance as a strategic ally. The two countries’ relationship is intended to be further strengthened through continuous cooperative efforts and joint projects.
