WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — White House Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer led a U.S. delegation to New Delhi for a comprehensive review of the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). The discussions, held on December 4, marked a crucial milestone in the strategic security and technology cooperation between the two nations.
During the visit, Mr. Finer engaged in bilateral and regional consultations with key Indian officials, including Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri, Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. The meetings aimed at enhancing coordination and policy alignment across the Indo-Pacific, with a particular focus on the broader Indian Ocean region.
One of the highlights of the discussions was the intersessional review of the iCET, underscoring its significance in shaping the U.S.-India partnership. The initiative, centered on critical and emerging technologies, holds substantial implications for both nations in the realms of security and technological advancements.
Beyond the iCET review, the leaders delved into comprehensive talks covering regional developments in the Indo-Pacific. Discussions encompassed the Middle East, addressing recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the imperative of safeguarding freedom of commercial navigation, and future plans for a post-conflict Gaza, including a pathway toward a two-state solution.
Acknowledging India’s proactive step, Mr. Finer noted the establishment of a Committee of Enquiry by India to investigate lethal plotting in the United States. Stressing the importance of accountability, he emphasized the need to hold anyone found responsible for such actions accountable.
The visit comes in the wake of recent allegations by the U.S. Justice Department, implicating an Indian government official in an unsuccessful murder plot of Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on U.S. soil. The incident has prompted a formal investigation by India, who has long deemed Pannun a terrorist.