NSA Sullivan to visit PM Narendra Modi to engage on shared India-US priorities

PM Modi during a meeting with US President Joe Biden (Representative Image)

Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor to US President Joe Biden, is scheduled to visit India to meet with Prime Minister Modi-led new government. As the two leaders seek to strengthen their bilateral relationship, the agenda will cover the trusted and strategic technological partnership as well as other shared priorities between the two countries, the White House said on Thursday.

According to reports from PTI, Jake Sullivan's visit was discussed during the phone call between Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to congratulate him on his re-election for a historic third term. In a readout of the call the White House said, "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 two leaders also discussed National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's upcoming travel to New Delhi to engage the new government on shared US-India priorities, including the trusted, strategic technology partnership," the White House said.

The readout said, Biden also commended the people of India for participating in the elections, with nearly 650 million going to the polls to vote. It stated that, the two leaders highlighted their shared vision of a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region as well as their commitment to deepening the US-India Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership, as reported by PTI.

In response to Biden's congratulatory message, Prime Minister Modi replied in a post on X that he was "happy to receive call from my friend President @JoeBiden. Deeply value his warm words of felicitations and his appreciation for the Indian democracy."

In a post on X, Modi wrote, "Conveyed that India-US Comprehensive Global Partnership is poised to witness many new landmarks in the years to come. Our partnership will continue to be a force for global good for the benefit of humanity."

Despite Sullivan's travel dates to India having not been announced yet, it is expected to be within days of Modi being sworn in for the third time on Saturday.

With the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, Modi is all set to take charge as the prime minister for a third consecutive term. It is expected that Modi will likely take the oath on June 8, as reported by PTI.

In an yet another statement coming from Senator Ben Cardin, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he congratulated the people of India for concluding their elections over the course of just a few weeks' time, with votes cast at over a million polling stations throughout the country. He stated, "The people of India have again demonstrated their commitment to the democratic process, casting their votes in spite of this year's intense heatwaves."

Cardin said "As political leaders begin to form a new government, I reaffirm my support for the people of India in their continued efforts to strengthen justice and the rule of law, to enhance transparent governance, and to safeguard human rights."

He further added, "The US-India partnership is, and will remain, important for regional and global prosperity for many years to come. I look forward to strengthening this relationship, and believe it will endure so long as it is founded in mutual respect and trust, and a commitment to democratic values."

Not only Biden and Cardin, Chairman emeritus of Cisco, John Chambers, in a LinkedIn post, congratulated Modi on his third term in office.

He said' "When I reflect back on my first meeting with PM Modi, I recall being struck right away with his humble yet courageous spirit and also his bold vision for India. His Digital India initiative is one of the best I have ever seen, and recent major partnerships in defence, technology and more are a clear indicator of the country's growth trajectory.'

John Chambers further added, "As I said at the Kennedy Center last June, I trust PM Modi with my life and I believe India will become the #1 GDP in the world, in large part because of his efforts. I look forward to collaborating further to make the US-India partnership the strongest in the world as the Chairman of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum. Keep an eye on India - I, for one, will continue to be the biggest bull on the country under his leadership."