The White House said the United States and India are the world's oldest and largest democracies and share a unique bond of friendship.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's visit is aimed at further strengthening this partnership and fostering a safer, more prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
Sullivan will visit New Delhi from June 17 to 18. It will be the first visit by a senior Biden administration official to India since Modi assumed power for a third term.
Sullivan met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian Prime Minister Ajit Doval on Monday (June 17).
“The United States and India are two of the world's oldest and largest democracies, and share a unique bond of friendship,” White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said at a daily briefing on Monday.
“Sullivan's visit will deepen the already strong U.S.-India relationship and contribute to a safer and more prosperous Indo-Pacific,” he added.
“Sullivan serves as co-chair of the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), a groundbreaking partnership to expand strategic cooperation across key technology areas, including space, semiconductors, advanced communications, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, biotechnology and clean energy,” Kirby said.
However, Kirby did not answer questions about Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national who was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic and accused of involvement in a plot to hire assassination against Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US.
“I have nothing more to add to Jake's conversation, but as I said, a primary goal of his visit was to explore ways to deepen the U.S.-India bilateral relationship, particularly with regard to emerging technologies,” he said.
Notably, Gupta appeared in federal court in New York on Monday and pleaded not guilty.
India has officially announced that a high-level investigation is underway into evidence provided by the US of an alleged conspiracy to kill Pannun.
(With input from relevant agencies)
