India, US army chiefs seek stronger defence cooperation

Army chiefs of India and the US have reviewed the ongoing army-to-army cooperation and opportunities to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, including through joint training exercises and military exchanges.

The review was undertaken at a meeting here between India's Chief of the Army Staff, General Bikram Singh and his US counterpart General Ray Odierno during General Singh's Dec 2-5 visit to the US.

General Singh also utilised the opportunity to discuss the US-India defence relationship with other senior US military leadership and advance India's military interests, according to a statement by the Indian embassy here.

The visit assumes special significance in the light of enhanced defence cooperation between the two countries over the last few years and rapidly increasing engagements under the framework for India-US defence relations.

The Army Chief visited important defence establishments of the US military and met a number of high-ranking defence and civilian officials in Washington.

General Singh was inducted into the Carlisle, Pennsylvania based US Army War College (USAWC) International Fellows Hall of Fame, an outstanding honour in the international military community.

Singh who is an alumnus of the USAWC having graduated with the class of 2004, was honoured for "having made a significant and enduring military/humanitarian contribution to international peace and stability" while holding the highest military rank in India.

He delivered a keynote speech to the USAWC graduating class of 2013-2014.

During the visit, General Singh was honoured with a full honours ceremony by US Army Chief of Staff.