The one wing of the US Government that is reasonably confident of “tangible and positive” results from President Barack Obama’s India visit is the Pentagon — and outgoing Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel is clearly upbeat about it.
Amid the likely renewal of the India-US Defence Framework Agreement and a forward push for the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), Hagel told reporters on Thursday: “I think the President’s trip …may well produce some very tangible and positive results of an effort being made, was made, continues to be made, by this department: not just me.”
Stating that Under Secretary of Defence Frank Kendall is in New Delhi for “closing out some of the things that we think can be delivered”, Hagel commented: “I think it is a unique time for India. It's a particularly, I think, unique time for this relationship between India and the United States. I am very proud of the progress we’ve made.”