National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio in New Delhi on Sunday for wide-ranging discussions on defence, security, strategic technology cooperation, and regional stability.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in defence, counterterrorism, strategic technology, and security-related domains, including the TRUST initiative.
Both sides reiterated the high priority accorded to the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and reviewed ongoing collaboration across multiple sectors.
The meeting also included an exchange of views on regional and global developments of mutual interest, with emphasis on international security and Indo-Pacific stability.
A major focus of the discussions was the TRUST initiative — “Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology” — which serves as the upgraded version of the earlier Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
Launched during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington in February 2025, TRUST aims to deepen India-US collaboration in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, critical minerals, biotechnology, energy, space, and resilient supply chains.
Officials stated that a key component of TRUST is the AI Infrastructure Roadmap, designed to boost investment, market access, and deployment of US-origin AI systems in India.
The US Embassy in India noted that the discussions also focused on counterterrorism cooperation, regional stability, and strengthening strategic coordination between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
Prior to meeting NSA Doval, Rubio also held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, where both sides reviewed the broader India-US strategic partnership covering trade, energy, defence, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, nuclear cooperation, counterterrorism, and counter-narcotics efforts.
Rubio is currently on a four-day visit to India and is scheduled to participate in the upcoming Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi alongside representatives from Australia and Japan.
The QUAD meeting is expected to focus on Indo-Pacific security, maritime cooperation, emerging technologies, and evolving geopolitical challenges across the region.
