Hagel To Meet Modi To Boost Defence, Strategic Ties

NEW DELHI : U.S. Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, who is here on a three-day visit, will meet the Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, here Friday in a visit aimed at boosting defence and strategic ties.

Hagel, whose visit comes in less than a week after that of Secretary of State John Kerry and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzeker, would also be meeting Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

He arrived Thursday evening on his maiden trip as defence secretary. He will also be meeting the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. He is expected to discuss military ties between the two countries, including partnership in defence hardware.

Ahead of his visit, Hagel said the "point of my trip here is to take advantage of the opportunity to meet with a new Indian government".

The US defence secretary described India as one of the most significant countries in the world and would help shape a "new world order" that is emerging in this century.

"The relationship between the United States and India certainly for our interests, for US interests, and I think for India's interests, as well as the Asia Pacific, but also global interests, is important.

"And where we can find common interests, where we can share areas that help promote our own countries', our own economies' stability, security, peace, trade, technology, then we need to take that initiative and we need to do that," he said in remarks to reporters accompanying him on the visit.

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