WASHINGTON — Jake Sullivan, the National Security Adviser, is set to visit India to advance discussions on strategic technological collaboration in areas such as defense, space, and artificial intelligence. This trip, scheduled for Sunday and Monday, comes as part of the Biden administration’s emphasis on the importance of the U.S.-India partnership, which garners backing from both major political groups within the country. During his visit, Sullivan will deliver a keynote speech at the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi, marking what is expected to be the final significant visit to India during his administration’s term.

In his itinerary, Sullivan plans to engage with key Indian officials, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. This dialogue underscores the deepening bilateral ties between India and the U.S., particularly following the establishment of a technology initiative in 2022 aimed at fostering cooperation in semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence. This initiative has played a pivotal role in finalizing a notable partnership that enables U.S.-based General Electric to collaborate with Hindustan Aeronautics in the production of jet engines on Indian soil.

The strengthening of U.S.-India relations is, in part, a strategic response to China’s increasing assertiveness throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The connection has been highlighted through noteworthy gestures, such as a state dinner hosted by President Biden for Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year. Nonetheless, this partnership has faced challenges, particularly stemming from allegations in 2023 that a member of Modi’s government was implicated in an attempted assassination plot against a Sikh activist in New York, coupled with the tragic killing of another Sikh activist in Canada. The complexities of these issues continue to shape the discourse surrounding U.S.-India relations.