US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who is on a two-day visit to India, on Sunday declared that the US has begun steps to advance full-fledged civil nuclear cooperation with India.
In his address at IIT-Delhi, Sullivan declared it had been two decades since former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed the Civil Nuclear Deal with then-US President George Bush, but the two countries are yet to completely realize the cooperation.
He said, today, “I can announce that the United States is now finalizing the necessary steps to remove long-standing regulations that have prevented civil nuclear cooperation between India’s leading nuclear entities and US companies.”
The US NSA also said that the official paperwork to complete these changes would be finalized soon, marking a new chapter in the US-India partnership.
He said, “The formal paperwork will be done soon, but this will be a chance to turn the page on some of the restraints of the past and create opportunities for entities that have been on constrained lists in the United States to end those lists and enter into deep collaboration with the United States, with our private sector, scientists, and technologists to move civil nuclear cooperation forward together.”
Sullivan further said, “India-US collaboration is pivotal for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.” We are deeply invested in our relationship with India.” Sullivan visited India two weeks ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the US.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday held talks with Sullivan and discussed the trajectory of the India-US global strategic partnership in the last four years under the Biden presidency.
Taking to the social media platform, Jaishankar opened up about his meeting with the US security advisor. He wrote, “Delighted to meet US NSA Jake Sullivan in New Delhi this morning.”
He further wrote, “Continued our ongoing discussions on deepening bilateral, regional, and global cooperation. Valued the openness of our conversations in the last four years. Appreciated his personal contribution to forging a closer and stronger partnership.”
