NSA Waltz delays India visit over ‘Signal gate’ scandal

• U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz has postponed his visit to India due to concerns over communication security breaches by the National Security Council.

• Waltz was scheduled to visit New Delhi from April 21 to 23 for official meetings and to address the annual U.S.-India Forum.

• The cancellation was communicated to the External Affairs Ministry and India’s NSA Ajit Doval.

• Waltz was expected to hold different meetings and call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit.

• He was also expected to attend a preliminary meeting of the Transforming Relations Utilising Strategic Technologies (TRUST) mechanism.

• Waltz was also scheduled to be a speaker at the U.S.-India Forum, a conference held annually behind closed doors.

• The reasons for the cancellation are unclear as Waltz’s visit had not been formally announced.

• The White House has stood by Waltz, but the reports have embarrassed the administration.

• Some efforts are underway to see if Vice-President J.D. Vance can fill Waltz’s spot at the Indo-U.S. Forum.