ID :
166575
Tue, 03/08/2011 - 15:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/166575
The shortlink copeid
Indian Army Chief in US to enhance defence cooperation
Washington, Mar 8 (PTI) Army Chief Gen V K Singh on Tuesday began his official visit to the US during which terrorism, situation in the region including Afghanistan and Pakistan, besides bilateral military-to-military ties would top the agenda of his talks with top American military leadership.
A visit to the US Central Command headquarters in
Florida is the key feature of his current travel. This is
because CENTCOM deals with Afghanistan and Pakistan, while
India has been traditionally dealing with the US Pacific
Command.
Gen Singh would meet American counterpart Gen James
Mattis during his US trip.
Terrorism, bi-lateral army exercises and current
situation in Afghanistan is expected to be some of the top
topics of the talks here.
The current situation in Libya and the Middle East,
and the increasing assertiveness of China is also expected to
come up during the talks here, officials said.
In his meeting with the US military officials, Singh
is also likely to discuss the procurement of USD 647 million
M-777 ULH from the US through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS)
route for the artillery, which has not inducted a new gun for
the last 25 years.
It is believed that the just concluded Defence Policy
Group meeting between the two countries gave a final shape to
it.
Gen Singh's visit comes two years after former Army
Chief General Deepak Kapoor had come to the US.
The Army chief is also expected to discuss the
procurement of the Javelin missile system, which again has
been offered to India through the FMS route.
In the last five years, defence relations have been
expanding between the two countries under the New Framework
for US-India Defence Relations.
The US undertakes the highest number of joint
exercises with India amongst all nations that includes the
navy-to-navy Malabar and SALVEX, army-to-army Yudhabhyas and
aerial 'Cope-India' exercises.
Gen Singh will also be inducted into 'The Hall of
Fame' of the US Army War College, Carlisle, of which he is an
alumunus during the visit between March 7 and 12.
A visit to the US Central Command headquarters in
Florida is the key feature of his current travel. This is
because CENTCOM deals with Afghanistan and Pakistan, while
India has been traditionally dealing with the US Pacific
Command.
Gen Singh would meet American counterpart Gen James
Mattis during his US trip.
Terrorism, bi-lateral army exercises and current
situation in Afghanistan is expected to be some of the top
topics of the talks here.
The current situation in Libya and the Middle East,
and the increasing assertiveness of China is also expected to
come up during the talks here, officials said.
In his meeting with the US military officials, Singh
is also likely to discuss the procurement of USD 647 million
M-777 ULH from the US through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS)
route for the artillery, which has not inducted a new gun for
the last 25 years.
It is believed that the just concluded Defence Policy
Group meeting between the two countries gave a final shape to
it.
Gen Singh's visit comes two years after former Army
Chief General Deepak Kapoor had come to the US.
The Army chief is also expected to discuss the
procurement of the Javelin missile system, which again has
been offered to India through the FMS route.
In the last five years, defence relations have been
expanding between the two countries under the New Framework
for US-India Defence Relations.
The US undertakes the highest number of joint
exercises with India amongst all nations that includes the
navy-to-navy Malabar and SALVEX, army-to-army Yudhabhyas and
aerial 'Cope-India' exercises.
Gen Singh will also be inducted into 'The Hall of
Fame' of the US Army War College, Carlisle, of which he is an
alumunus during the visit between March 7 and 12.
