US and India Forge Strong Tech and Security Ties in South Asia
Afreen Akhter, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA), highlighted significant collaborations between the US and India during a news conference organised by the Washington Foreign Press Center.
Akhter emphasised the launch of the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in January last year, aiming to fortify the semiconductor supply chain, enhance space cooperation, and foster advancements in telecommunications.
Moreover, the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment endeavours to bolster regional resilience against transnational threats, focusing on infrastructure, climate change, and pandemic response. This initiative includes plans for climate infrastructure deployment, a new fund, and the implementation of 40,000 public e-buses, supported by contributions from the US, India, and philanthropic partners.
Additionally, the Climate Action Champions Work in South Asia seeks to nurture climate leaders and support climate advocacy across the region, reflecting a commitment to addressing environmental challenges.
Highlighting the deepened defence partnership between the US and India, Akhter highlighted joint exercises, strengthened defence industrial cooperation, and the annual 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue as pivotal aspects of their collaboration.
The US remains committed to substantial investments in South Asia, as exemplified by the recent announcement of a half-billion-dollar investment in the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka in partnership with India’s Adani Group. This investment aims to expand port capacity and enhance Sri Lanka’s economic prominence in the region.
Moreover, to bolster regional security, the US has delivered four new patrol boats to the Maldives and provided three Coast Guard cutters to Sri Lanka to monitor their Exclusive Economic Zones.
The engagements underscore the US’s commitment to fostering robust partnerships, bolstering regional security, and advancing shared interests in South Asia.
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