India-US relationship is very important: Hagel

Observing that the relationship between India and the United States is very important, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said that the Obama administration will work for a closer relationship.
"I can tell you that that India-US relationship is a very important relationship. I think the President has made that clear, Secretary Kerry recently noted that in his visit," Hagel said yesterday.
"We believe that and we will continue to work toward a closer and closer relationship," said the Defence Secretary.
However, he said that he has not had a chance to review the efforts being made by the Deputy Secretary Ash Carter to work with Indians on reducing bureaucratic hurdles in order to increase Indo-US defence trade.

Military ties between India and the United States have deepened in recent months. The Commander of the US Pacific Command was part of the US delegation led by Secretary of State John Kerry for the fourth India-US Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi this week.
US Army Chief General Raymond Odierno will visit India in July to meet his Indian counterpart and expand the existing military to military co-operation between the two countries.