US NSA Jake Sullivan Postpones India Visit Second Time This Year

New Delhi: US National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan has cancelled his visit to India for the second time this year. This time, Sullivan is believed to have postponed his visit on account of the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran. 

Sullivan was supposed to be in New Delhi on April 17-18 for a meeting with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. The visit would have come at a time when the Model Code of Conduct is in force in India due to the upcoming general elections. 

Sullivan had earlier cancelled a visit to India in February because of “scheduling constraints”. He was supposed to travel to India to attend the ‘Raisina Dialogue’ organised annually by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs.

“Due to ongoing events in the Middle East, NSA Sullivan has postponed his trip to India this week. NSA Sullivan looks forward to holding the iCET (initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology) annual review at the next earliest possible date and remains personally committed to advancing our deeply consequential and multifaceted partnership with India,” a US Embassy spokesperson said Tuesday.

Tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv soared over the weekend when Iran launched more than 300 cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and armed drones deep inside the territory of Israel in retaliation to the April 1 attack on their consulate in Damascus, Syria. 

Suspected Israeli airstrikes on the consulate killed seven Iranian military officials, including two senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran.

In the wake of the growing tensions that escalated on account of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, US President Joe Biden called an emergency meeting of the G-7. The bloc subsequently said in a joint statement that the member countries “unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms” the direct attack by Iran. 

“We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security,” it added.

The US has assured Israel of “ironclad” support against Iran.

Meanwhile, with tacit support from NATO, Israel has announced ‘Operation Iron Shield’, which aims to plan a retaliatory action to attack Iran.

Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Israel will respond “at the time that we choose”.

What Is ICET?

The iCET initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden in May 2022, aims to foster cooperation in new and emerging technologies. Co-led by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in India and the US National Security Council (NSC), it underscores the strong partnership between the two nations. So far, it has had two rounds of talks.

The US Embassy spokesperson also said “the President looks forward to the next meeting of the Quad leaders and continuing our efforts with India to deliver results for the American and Indian people, as well as our partners, in support of our shared vision for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific”.