Army chief's week-long visit to the US to boost defence ties

New Delhi, Nov 3 (UNI) Chief of Army Staff General J J Singh will leave here tomorrow for a week-long visit to the United States to further boost defence cooperation between the two countries.

This is the first visit to America by an Army Chief after a gap of almost two years.

Gen Singh's visit assumes significance in the light of enhanced defence cooperation between the two countries over the past five years and the signing of the New Framework for US-India Defence Relations in June last year.

The visit is expected to give further impetus to defence cooperation by commencing interactions in operational research, air defence, explosive ordnance disposal and doctrine and concepts, Defence Ministry sources said here today.

To broad-base the existing relationship, joint adventure activities in mountaineering, para gliding and sky diving are also being proposed.

The Army Chief is scheduled to hold meetings with the senior military and political hierarchy of the US Army and the Department of Defense, including the Secretary Defense, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Army Chief.

Besides, he will visit the US TRADOC Infantry School in Fort Benning, the USI Corps, the Stryker Training Centre and the National Training Centre.

His visit is expected to further diversify army-to-army cooperation in training, exchange of experts, attendance in seminars and joint participation in sports and adventure activities between the two countries, the sources said.

The strength and depth of the Indo-US defence relationship can be gauged from the fact that so far this year, the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Staff (Army), the C-in-C Pacific Command and the Commandant US Marine Corps have already visited India.

The Joint Indo-US events being conducted regularly include joint exercises, exchange of officers on courses of instruction and visits, and exchange of experts in addition to the on-going procurement of equipment.

UNI YJ VD KP1606