NSA Doval, US Deputy Def. Secy Hicks discuss priorities for US-India bilateral partnership

Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor, met with US Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks to discuss goals for the US-India bilateral defence collaboration. The conversations between Doval and Hicks addressed boosting policy and operational coordination in the Indo-Pacific area, as well as increasing defence industry collaboration between the two countries, according to a news release from the US Department of Defense.

During the discussion, Hicks underlined that the department’s top objective is to build alliances and partnerships, which are critical to the continuous implementation of the US National Defense Strategy.

“Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr Kathleen Hicks met with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Washington, D.C., today to discuss priorities for the US-India bilateral defence partnership, to include strengthening policy and operational coordination in the Indo-Pacific region and increasing defence industrial cooperation between the two countries,” the US Department of Defence said in the press release.

Kathleen Hicks tweeted, “I met today with #India Nat’l Security Advisor #AjitDoval to discuss priorities for the US-India defense partnership, thank India for leadership in the Indo-Pacific region & discuss ways to deepen defense industrial cooperation.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in US in a tweet stated, “Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks @DepSecDef called on NSA Ajit Doval. They discussed a range of topics including U.S.- India defence cooperation and regional security issues.”

During the discussion, Hicks commended NSA Doval for India’s leadership in the Indo-Pacific and discussed ways to strengthen coordination between India’s and the US forces to handle the region’s increasingly challenged strategic environment.

“The deputy secretary thanked NSA Doval for India’s leadership in the region and discussed avenues to deepen coordination between the U.S. and Indian militaries to address the region’s increasingly contested strategic environment,” the US Department of Defence said in the press release.

Both parties explored ways to expand bilateral defence industry cooperation through creative joint ventures between US and Indian enterprises that support India’s unique operating requirements. Hicks and Doval both emphasised that they were looking forward to making progress in furthering the US-India defence collaboration.

Doval is in Washington on an official visit from January 30 to February 1. Senior government officials and Indian industry leaders followed Doval during his visit to the United States, according to a news release from the Ministry of External Affairs.

On January 31, NSA Doval and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan co-chaired the White House’s initial meeting of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). According to the press release, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden announced the effort on Critical and Emerging Technologies during their meeting in Tokyo in May 2022.

iCET aspires to establish the two countries as trusted technology partners by establishing technology value chains and facilitating item co-development and co-production. It also intends to use a standing mechanism to resolve regulatory constraints, export controls, and mobility hurdles.

The US side has pledged help for lowering export barriers to India in a few key areas, including legislative changes. According to the press release, the launch focused on establishing links between startup ecosystems and building innovation bridges in important areas between the two countries through expos, hackathons, and pitching sessions.

According to a news release from the Ministry of External Affairs, the two sides developed a quantum coordination structure with participation from industry and academia. In the sphere of semiconductors, the US fostered collaborative ventures and partnerships for mature technological nodes and advanced packaging, as well as the creation of an Indian fabrication ecosystem.

Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s Ambassador to the United States, also hosted a reception for NSA in India House on January 31. The reception was attended by US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Jake Sullivan, Acting Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, other high officials from the US Administration, CEOs of advanced technology firms and funds, and presidents of important US institutions.