Washington: With US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel set to visit India on Thursday, noted American experts said his maiden trip to the country, in the early days of the new government, will give a much-needed thrust to the Indo-US defense ties.
Hagel, the second US cabinet minister to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this week, will be accompanied by a high-power delegation of military leadership.
The Defense Secretary, during his three-day visit will hold talks with Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, and is also expected to meet National Security Advisor Ajit K Doval and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
“The purpose of this trip is to nurture the relationship and not to ink any deal,” Pentagon Press Secretary, Rear Admiral John Kirby told PTI ahead of the trip.
Hagel’s meetings will focus on the converging interests of India and the US in the Asia Pacific, their common interests in Afghanistan and initiatives to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation, including military exercises, defense, trade, co-production and co-development, and research and new technologies, Kirby said.
Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs, Puneet Talwar will accompany Hagel. (PTI)