The interaction between India and the US has been on the increase for some time now. The deepening India-US relation, post the signing of several crucial agreements, has led to the military leadership of both countries meeting each other on and off to progress issues of mutual concern.
General Manoj Pande, the Indian Army Chief is scheduled to start for his US tour on 13th February to 16th February 2024. The obvious objective is to further strengthen defence cooperation and foster stronger bonds between the armies of both nations.
During his visit, the COAS will engage in high-level discussions and interactions with General Randy George, United States Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) and other senior military leaders. Highlights of the tour include a prestigious US Army Honour Guard ceremony, a solemn laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, and a comprehensive tour of the Pentagon. These engagements symbolise the respect and mutual commitment towards global peace and security shared between the two countries.
Ideas will be exchanged on crucial topics such as the “Transformation in the Indian Army,” “Global Threat Perception,” “Transformation to Army-2030/2040,” “Human Resource Challenges,” “Future Force Development and Modernisation,” and “Co-Production & Co-Development Initiatives.” These discussions are aimed at sharing insights, ideas, and best practices between the two armies.
Further, the itinerary includes a visit to the ‘Army Geospatial Centre’ at Fort Belvoir, the ‘National Defence University’ at Fort McNair, and interactions with leadership at Headquarters 1 Corps. He will also engage with units at the forefront of military innovation and strategy, including the Stryker Unit, 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, the 1st Special Forces Group at Seattle and the Defence Innovation Unit in San Francisco. A visit to the California National Guard is also planned, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the visit aimed at exploring avenues for more significant training, co-development and co-production engagements.
General Randy George, US CSA, had recently visited India for the Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference (IPACC) that was jointly hosted by the Indian Army and the US Army. 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 to synergise approaches to HADR, increasing military exchange endeavours and other issues of mutual interest.
This visit is another milestone in the Indo-US defence relationship, reflecting a mutual desire to enhance military collaboration, exchange strategic perspectives on global threat perceptions, and work together toward future force development and modernisation. 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.
Both countries have common interests and objectives in the Indo-Pacific and share a commitment to peace, democracy, and stability across regions. With China getting more and more aggressive in the South China Sea, and the presence of its naval assets in the Indian Ocean increasing, there is a need to evolve greater interoperability between the forces of both countries.
Team Bharatshakti
