The Biden administration underscores India as its primary partner in South Asia, revealing plans for a multi-billion-dollar climate infrastructure initiative and a new fund, with a USD 500 million investment contribution from its development finance institution.
Afreen Akhter, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA), shared these insights during a news conference hosted by the Washington Foreign Press Center.
Emphasizing the significance of the partnership, Akhter highlighted the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), launched in January last year. This initiative aims to strengthen cooperation on semiconductor supply chains, space exploration, and telecommunications advancements.
Furthermore, Akhter discussed the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, which seeks to deploy substantial climate infrastructure investments in collaboration with India. This effort includes a USD 500 million investment from the US Development Finance Corporation, facilitating the deployment of 40,000 public e-buses through innovative financing mechanisms.
In addition to climate initiatives, the US has launched the Climate Action Champions Work in South Asia to nurture the next generation of climate leaders and support climate advocacy in the region.
Regarding defence cooperation, Akhter highlighted the deepening ties between the US and India through joint exercises, defence industrial cooperation, and the annual 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, emphasizing the significance of this relationship within the broader Indo-Pacific strategy.
Akhter also emphasized the US’s commitment to bolstering regional security in South Asia, citing recent initiatives such as providing patrol boats to the Maldives and Coast Guard cutters to Sri Lanka, aiming to enhance their maritime surveillance capabilities and contribute to regional stability.
