Washington: American National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is scheduled to visit India to engage with the new government on shared US-India priorities, the White House announced on June 5.
While Sullivan's travel dates have not yet been announced, it is expected to be within days of Narendra Modi readying to take oath as the Prime Minister of India for a record third straight term. The top-ranking US official's visit was discussed during a phone call made by President Joe Biden to PM Modi.
"President Joseph R Biden Jr spoke today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to congratulate him and the National Democratic Alliance on their historic victory in India's general election," the White House said in a statement.
The two leaders stressed their commitment to strengthening the US-India Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership and to advance their common vision of a free, open, and prosperous India-Pacific region, the White House added. President Biden praised the “friendship” between the US and India on X.
Earlier, the Biden administration said it looks forward to "continued" close relations with India just after Modi's National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was voted to a third term. “I expect a continued close partnership between the United States and India. There is a great partnership both at the government level, and at the people-to-people level, and I fully expect that to continue,” Matthew Miller, the State Department Spokesperson, said.
“On behalf of the United States, we want to commend the Government of India and voters there for successfully completing and participating in such a massive electoral undertaking, and we look forward to seeing the final results,” he added.
In April this year, Sullivan called off a planned visit to India because of spiraling tensions between Iran and Israel. He was expected to be in New Delhi for a meeting with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on April 18 to review the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology
