US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter will visit India next month as part of the new push for bilateral defence cooperation, the Pentagon announced. Carter is expected to build on the momentum generated during President Barack Obama’s January visit, when the two countries renewed their defence framework agreement.
This cooperation includes the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative that Carter started when he served as Deputy Defence Secretary, Pentagon officials said, adding that Carter also will engage India further on other Asia-Pacific issues. Carter will be visiting Asia twice in quick succession to “affirm defence relationships with allies and build upon key initiatives of the US strategic rebalance to the region”, the officials said.