JAKE Sullivan, the outgoing US National Security Advisor, during his final trip to India, announced that significant steps are being taken towards finalising full-scale civil nuclear cooperation between the United States and India.
This move builds upon the vision laid out nearly two decades ago by former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Sullivan’s visit, which took place on January 5 and 6, marked a pivotal moment in US-India relations, highlighting progress in a long-awaited area of collaboration.
The two nations have long sought to implement the Civil Nuclear Deal signed in 2005 between Manmohan Singh and then-US President George W. Bush. However, despite the deal’s signing, full-scale cooperation has not been realised due to various regulatory obstacles.
Now, Sullivan revealed that the US is finally taking steps to remove these long-standing regulations, which have hindered progress in civil nuclear cooperation between India’s leading nuclear entities and American companies.
At a speech delivered at IIT-Delhi, Sullivan confirmed that the necessary steps to advance this cooperation were being finalised. He expressed confidence that the formal paperwork to remove restrictions would be completed soon, paving the way for a new chapter in the US-India partnership.
This shift would not only strengthen ties between the two nations but also lift certain entities from restricted lists, allowing them to collaborate with the US private sector, scientists, and technologists.
The cooperation, which has been a long time coming, will help drive the next phase of civil nuclear development and cooperation.
Sullivan also highlighted the broader significance of US-India collaboration, stressing its importance for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. He acknowledged the growing strategic partnership between the two countries, saying, “We are deeply invested in our relationship with India.”
Over the past few years, the US-India relations have evolved to a new level of cooperation, something Sullivan sees as a major accomplishment during his tenure.
As he prepares to depart from his role at the White House, Sullivan’s visit to India is a final push to secure lasting progress on several key initiatives. The visit also comes just weeks before the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States.
During his time in India, Sullivan has been holding talks with his counterpart, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, as well as other senior government officials, to finalise ongoing initiatives and strengthen ties on various bilateral, regional, and global issues.
