The US has said that India has a “very important” role to play in responsible stewardship of nuclear weapons and materials. In his meeting with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Washington, ahead of Nuclear Security Summit, US Secretary of State John Kerry said India has a long record of being a leader, of being responsible, and it is particularly important right now at a time when we see some choices being made in the region that may accelerate possible arms construction, which we have serious questions about.
He said that the US has raised these issues with various partners in the Asian region. He expressed the hope this Nuclear Security Summit will contribute to everybody’s understanding about our global responsibilities and choices. Ajit Doval said India was “deeply interested” in ensuring safety and security of radioactive materials.
Hoping for increased cooperation with the US, Doval said India and the US would look to work together on their shared concerns, including terrorism and cyber space. The Secretary of State said that the US-India civil nuclear partnership should bolster India’s energy security and the strong economic relationship between the two countries.