Recently, a significant leap towards strengthening the strategic partnership between India and the United States has been made. This comes in the form of increased technological and defense cooperation under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). Announced by the two nations in May 2022 and officially launched in January 2023, the iCET aims at facilitating greater cooperation in critical and emerging fields by addressing regulatory hurdles and aligning export controls.
Foundations of the iCET and Its Key Focus Areas
Run jointly by the National Security Council of both countries, the initiative outlines six areas where synergies can be developed. These include co-development, co-production, and eventual collaboration with other key foreign stakeholders like QUAD and NATO, as well as other European nations.
At the heart of this initiative, India will share its core technologies with the US and vice versa. The focus is primarily on cutting-edge fields such as AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and wireless telecommunication.
The initiative also includes numerous components like defense industrial cooperation, partnerships for AI research, fostering innovation ecosystems, development of semiconductor environment, cooperative actions on human spaceflight, and advancements in 5G and 6G technologies with the adoption of OpenRAN network technology in India.
Achievements So Far Under the iCET
Under this initiative, key milestones have already been reached. These achievements include the Quantum Coordination Mechanism, significant discussions on AI and space, establishing a semiconductor supply chain through Memorandum of Understanding, and finalizing a blueprint for defense industrial cooperation. Moreover, the two nations are close to sealing a major deal related to a jet engine project, along with launching a new initiative known as the India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X).
State of India-US Relations
The strategic partnership extends beyond technology and defense, reaching into economic ties. The U.S. has emerged as India’s biggest trading partner in 2022-23 with bilateral trade totaling USD 128.55 billion—a 7.65% increase from USD 119.5 billion in the previous fiscal year.
On the international front, India and the US cooperatively engage in various multilateral organizations like the United Nations, G-20, ASEAN Regional Forum, IMF, World Bank, and WTO. Furthermore, the US supports India’s permanent membership in a revamped UN Security Council and endorses India’s efforts towards creating a free and open Indo-Pacific region under the Quad arrangement with Japan and Australia.
OpenRAN Network Technology: A Brief Overview
A significant part of the technological cooperation between the two nations entails the use of OpenRAN network technology. OpenRAN technology represents a non-proprietary version of the Radio Access Network (RAN) system that connects individual devices to other parts of a network through radio links.
The technology promises versatility by allowing interoperability between equipment from different vendors. It also promises cost reduction, faster innovation, increased competition, and facilitating the adoption of 5G and 6G networks while enhancing network security and performance.
Last Modified: February 20, 2024