Eric Garcetti, the Mayor of Los Angeles, California, and currently the US Ambassador to India praised Ajit Doval, the National Security Advisor (NSA) of India, for his exceptional work, referring to him as an "international treasure." Garcetti commended Doval's humble beginnings as a village boy from Uttarakhand and highlighted how he has become not only a national treasure in India but also an esteemed figure on the international stage.
Speaking at the United States-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) meeting in Delhi, Garcetti expressed his admiration for the robust foundation between the United States and India. He emphasized the strong bond and mutual affection between the people of both countries, stating, "It is so clear that Indians love Americans and Americans love Indians."
Furthermore, Garcetti praised India's advancements in digital payments and financial technology, acknowledging their global impact. He highlighted the empowerment provided by digital payments, illustrating the example of a tea seller in a village who receives direct government payments on her phone.
Garcetti shared an anecdote from a dinner he had with a group of multi-faith leaders in India, where one of them mentioned that India possesses something more powerful than the technological advancements of 4G, 5G, or 6G—referred to as "Guruji."
During his two-day visit to India, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, to discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest. Sullivan was accompanied by a delegation of senior US government officials and leaders from US industries. The visit occurred ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming state visit to the United States.
The national security advisers engaged in discussions on common interests and attended the second Track 1.5 discourse hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry. This dialogue aimed to strengthen ties between the two countries, following the first edition organized by the US Chamber of Commerce earlier in the year.
Sullivan's itinerary also included meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other dignitaries from the Government of India.
Earlier in New Delhi, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and NSA Ajit Doval held discussions on various topics, including the Indo-Pacific region and collaboration in niche technologies within the maritime, military, and aerospace domains. They emphasized the importance of technology transfer, co-production, and building indigenous capacities, aligning with India's Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiatives.
Austin also concluded a roadmap for Defense Industrial Cooperation with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, further strengthening defense ties between the United States and India.
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