India, US look to deepen defence ties as Army Chief General Manoj Pande starts 4-day tour

Ajay Banerjee

New Delhi, February 12

Army Chief General Manoj Pande has left for a four-day (February 13-16) US trip. This visit is happening as the two countries are deepening military cooperation and strategic partnership. General Pande will engage in high-level discussions and interactions with General Randy George, US Chief of Staff of the Army, and other senior military leaders.

Planned engagements over 4 days

• Highlights of the visit include a US Army Honour Guard ceremony, wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Arlington National Cemetery and a comprehensive Pentagon tour.
• The engagements are poised to yield substantive outcomes, fostering an environment conducive to shared interests, says the Army.

The visit is aimed at exploring avenues for more significant training, co-development and co-production engagements. The two Generals will exchange ideas on crucial topics, such as the transformation in the Indian Army, global threat perception, human resource challenges, future force development and modernisation, co-production and co-development initiatives. These discussions are aimed at sharing insights, ideas and best practices between the two armies.

“This visit underscores the deepening military cooperation and strategic partnership between India and the United States, aiming to further strengthen defence cooperation and foster stronger bonds between the armies of both nations,” the Army said.

Crucially, the itinerary includes a visit to the US Army Geospatial Centre at Fort Belvoir, the National Defence University.

General Pande will also engage with units at the forefront of military innovation and strategy, including the Stryker Unit. The US has okayed the deal to produce the Stryker in collaboration with India.

Highlights of the visit include a prestigious US Army Honour Guard ceremony, a solemn laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Arlington National Cemetery and a comprehensive tour of the Pentagon.

General Randy George had recently visited India for the Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference (IPACC) that was jointly hosted by the Indian and the US armies. The conference was attended by 18 chiefs of armies and 12 countries, represented by heads of delegations.

During IPACC, General Randy George and General Manoj Pande engaged in constructive dialogue, addressing a wide range of issues related to military cooperation, synergising approaches to HADR, increasing military exchange endeavours and other issues of mutual interest.

“The engagements between General Manoj Pande and senior leadership of the United States Army are poised to yield substantive outcomes, fostering an environment conducive to shared security interests and defence cooperation,” the Army stated.

These discussions are aimed at sharing insights, ideas and best practices between the two armies, they said. These engagements symbolise the respect and mutual commitment towards global peace and security shared between the two countries, the Army stated. (With PTI inputs)

Idea exchange

Officials say ideas will be exchanged on crucial topics, such as the transformation in the Indian Army, global threat perception, future force development and modernisation, co-production and co-development initiatives.