U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was in India this week working to strengthen long-term ties between the two nations, as part of the move to focus on the Asia Pacific region.
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Gen. Odierno, Gen. Singh
Photo: U.S. Army
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While discussing economic areas the two nations could expand upon, Biden said Wednesday the United States can “significantly increase” its defense cooperation with India without compromising each other’s sovereignty.
“Rather than just India purchasing from us, together we can graduate to have a true partnership or co-production and co-development agreements so that together we can design and co-produce the systems and technologies of the future,” Biden said in remarks on the U.S.-India partnership at the Bombay Stock Exchange in Mumbai.
Biden also said the United States wants to deepen the strategic partnership on regional as well as global issues as the U.S. increases its engagement in the Asia Pacific region. “We refer to it as rebalance,” he said.
Also this week, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno discussed future opportunities between the two armies as he visited his counterpart, Gen. Bikram Singh, chief of Army Staff, in New Delhi.
“It’s important to work with other militaries, building relationships with one other, developing trust and understanding,” Odierno said in a release from his office. “It was an honor for me to visit with Gen. Singh and his staff. Sharing lessons learned and having a dialogue with other militaries concerning their operations and training is an important part of our mil-to-mil relationships.”
Ahead of his one-on-one visit, Odierno received a 15-minute Indian Army presentation on the “Indian Security and Strategic Perspective,” according to the New Indian Express. The United States and Indian Armies have enjoyed a long-standing partnership over the years operating alongside one another in training exercises and military exchanges.
Odierno also met with other senior leaders, spoke at the Indian National Defense College and met with soldiers of the Indian Army, his office said.
Visits with military counterparts are conducted regularly by the Chief of Staff, and are considered critical in sustaining military partnerships, as well as strengthening engagements opportunities.