In a historic first, the United States, Republic of Korea, and India convened for a trilateral dialogue in Seoul this week, signalling a significant step towards fostering collaborative efforts in technology development and safeguarding sensitive innovations. According to statements from the US embassy, the meeting aimed to synchronise strategies in protecting critical technologies and nurturing trustworthy technology ecosystems both regionally and globally.
The dialogue, hailed as a landmark event, emphasised the importance of coordinating efforts to safeguard sensitive technologies while fostering innovation and economic growth. Among the key areas of discussion were semiconductor supply chains, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, space exploration, advanced materials, clean energy, and critical minerals.
Furthermore, the three nations explored potential collaborations in defence industrial development, biotechnology – particularly in ensuring resilient active pharmaceutical supply chains, and other emerging sectors vital for national security and economic prosperity.
The commitment to expanding cooperation on critical and emerging technologies underscores a shared vision of leveraging innovation to address pressing challenges and drive economic progress in the broader Indo-Pacific region.
Leading the Indian delegation was Joint Secretary Lekhan Thakkar from the National Security Council Secretariat, while the American team was headed by Senior Director Tarun Chhabra from the US National Security Council and Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology Seth Center from the US State Department. On the South Korean side, Deputy National Security Advisor Wang Yunjong of the ROK National Security Office spearheaded the discussions.
The trilateral summit not only signifies a significant milestone in regional cooperation but also lays the groundwork for future collaborative endeavours aimed at harnessing the transformative potential of technology for the collective benefit of all stakeholders involved.
