India, US and the atomic second wind

The visit of Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor, to India marks the last foreign trip of his tenure and highlights significant developments in the US-India bilateral relationship. A key focus of this visit is the deepening of technological cooperation, particularly in areas such as AI, semiconductors, space, and biotechnology, as part of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).

Strengthening India-US Strategic Partnership

• Biden Administration's Commitment: The visit underscores the Biden Administration’s dedication to enhancing India-US relations, aiming for a more robust partnership in global geopolitics and economics.
• Preventing Crises: A key feature of the bilateral approach is ensuring that unforeseen crises do not derail the progress of this growing strategic alliance.
• Legacy of the iCET: The iCET initiative, launched in 2023, has been a pivotal step toward fostering techno-industrial collaboration between both countries, focusing on sectors vital to future global economies.

Deepening Technological Collaboration

• Techno-Industrial Era: The Biden Administration has transitioned beyond government-to-government engagements, promoting collaboration across industries, start-ups, and research communities in both nations.
• Technological Sectors: Key areas of cooperation include AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, and space exploration, which are poised to shape the global economy in the coming decades.
• Derisking from China: The iCET is part of a broader US strategy to reduce dependence on China and build new technology partnerships, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s influence.

Challenges and Opportunities in Tech Cooperation

• Nuclear and Space Cooperation: There have been restrictions on civilian space and nuclear cooperation, though efforts to lift these barriers are underway, offering new opportunities for collaboration.
• Nuclear Energy’s Role: India faces challenges in modifying laws to foster greater foreign investment in its nuclear energy sector, an area of increasing importance due to the demand for clean energy in sectors like AI.
• Future under Different US Leadership: The continuity of this collaboration under a potential Trump administration remains uncertain, though shared interests in technology and global competition with China provide a basis for optimism.

Practice Question:

Q. Evaluate the strategic significance of the iCET initiative in strengthening India-US relations. How can cooperation in emerging technologies contribute to both countries' geopolitical and economic objectives, and what challenges might arise in sustaining this collaboration under changing US leadership?