Should Not Let Red Tape Limit Indo-U.S. Defence Cooperation: Chuck Hagel

The American Defence Secretary said the U.S. can also learn a lot for India's experience in peacekeeping operations across the world especially Africa.

Asked about the role the U.S. can play in resolving the middle-east crisis, Hagel said America cannot dictate terms to the people of that region, which was developing as a "dangerous" zone due to presence of groups such as the ISIL.

Hagel said "America's future is tied to its sustained global engagement, and a stronger strategic partnership with India is an integral part of that future".

Stating that the fundamentals of the U.S.-India partnership are strong, he said: "The question is whether India and the U.S .can achieve the enormous potential of our partnership ... whether we can transform our potential into results."

The American Defence Secretary said the U.S. is committed to exercising its leadership to support India's rise as a global power.

"The U.S. strongly supports India's growing global influence and military capability, including its potential as a security provider from the Indian Ocean to the greater Pacific," he said.

"Helping fulfil that potential is a deepening U.S.-India defence partnership ? a partnership that must be cooperative, cutting edge, consequential, and based on common interests, strengthening our military-to-military relations, re-energising our defence industrial cooperation and expanding our regional cooperation," Hagel said.

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