India and US welcome undersea cable project of Meta, commit to strengthening of digital highways in Indian Ocean region

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, D.C. During their joint statement, India and the US reiterated their commitment to strengthening global digital highways in the Indian Ocean and regions beyond it. “The US appreciates India’s role as a developmental, humanitarian assistance and net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region. In this context, the leaders committed to deepen bilateral dialogue and cooperation across the vast Indian Ocean region and launched the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture, a new bilateral, whole-of-government forum to advance coordinated investments in economic connectivity and commerce,” the statement read. It further added, “Supporting greater Indian Ocean connectivity, the leaders also welcomed Meta’s announcement of a multi-billion, multi-year investment in an undersea cable project that will begin work this year and ultimately stretch over 50,000 km to connect five continents and strengthen global digital highways in the Indian Ocean region and beyond.“ India has made its commitment clear in terms of its investment in the maintenance, repair and financing of undersea cables in the Indian Ocean through trusted vendors.