General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), embarks on a significant official tour to the United States of America from 13th February to 16th February 2024.
COAS Gen Manoj Pande Official Visit In USA
General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), embarks on a significant official tour to the United States of America from 13th February to 16th February 2024. This visit underscores the deepening military cooperation and strategic partnership between India and the United States, aiming to further strengthen defence cooperation and foster stronger bonds between the armies of both nations.
During his visit, the COAS will engage in high-level discussions and interactions with General Randy George, United States Chief of Staff of the Army and other senior military leaders. Highlights of the tour include a prestigious US Army Honour Guard ceremony, a solemn laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, and a comprehensive tour of the Pentagon.
Ideas will be exchanged on crucial topics such as the “Transformation in the Indian Army,” “Global Threat Perception,” “Transformation to Army-2030/2040,” “Human Resource Challenges,” “Future Force Development and Modernisation,” and “Co-Production & Co-Development Initiatives.” General Randy George, US CSA, had recently visited India for the Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference (IPACC) that was jointly hosted by the Indian Army and the US Army. The conference was attended by 18 Chiefs of Armies and 12 countries represented by Heads of Delegations.
India’s Relations With The US
•The U.S. has emerged as India’s biggest trading partner in 2022-23 on account of increasing economic ties between the two countries.
•The bilateral trade between India and the U.S. has increased by 7.65% to USD 128.55 in 2022-23 as against USD 119.5 billion in 2021-22.
•Exports to the U.S. rose by 2.81% to USD 78.31 billion in 2022-23 as against USD 76.18 billion in 2021-22, while imports grew by about 16% to USD 50.24 billion.
India has now signed all four foundational agreements with the US.
•The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016,
•the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018,
•The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial cooperation (BECA) in 2020.
•While the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) was signed a long time ago, an extension to it, the Industrial Security Annex (ISA), was signed in 2019
•The armed forces of India and the US engage in extensive bilateral military exercises (Yuddha Abyas, Vajra Prahar) and minilateral ones with the four partners in the Quad Forum (Malabar).
•Another grouping in the Middle East – I2U2 involving India, Israel, UAE and the US is being termed as the new Quad.
•ISRO and US National Aeronautics and Space Administration are developing a microwave remote sensing satellite for Earth observation, NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR).
•In June 2023 ISRO signed with NASA the Artemis Accords to participate in peaceful and sustainable civil exploration of outer space.
