New Delhi: Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande is set to commence a four-day official tour to the United States of America, starting February 13, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Defence released on Monday.

The visit aims to deepen military cooperation and strategic partnership between India and the United States, with the objective of strengthening defence ties and fostering closer bonds between the armies of both nations, the statement noted.

During his visit, General Pande will participate in high-level discussions and interactions with General Randy George, the United States Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA), and other senior military leaders. Notable events on the itinerary include a prestigious US Army Honour Guard ceremony, a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, and a comprehensive tour of the Pentagon. These engagements symbolize the mutual respect and commitment to global peace and security shared between the two countries.

Discussions during the visit will cover critical topics such as "Transformation in the Indian Army," "Global Threat Perception," "Army-2030/2040 Transformation," "Human Resource Challenges," "Future Force Development and Modernization," and "Co-Production and Co-Development Initiatives." The aim is to exchange ideas, insights, and best practices between the two armies.

Additionally, General Pande's itinerary includes visits to the Army Geospatial Centre at Fort Belvoir, the National Defence University at Fort McNair, and interactions with leadership at Headquarters 1 Corps. He will also engage with units at the forefront of military innovation and strategy, including the Stryker Unit, the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, the 1st Special Forces Group in Seattle, and the Defence Innovation Unit in San Francisco. A visit to the California National Guard is also scheduled, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the visit aimed at exploring avenues for enhanced training, co-development, and co-production engagements.

General Randy George, the US CSA, recently visited India for the Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference (IPACC), jointly hosted by the Indian Army and the US Army. During IPACC, General George and General Pande engaged in constructive dialogue, addressing various issues related to military cooperation, including approaches to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), increasing military exchanges, and other mutual interests. Their interactions underscored the deepening cooperation and collaborative spirit between the military leadership of both nations.

The statement emphasized that this visit marks another milestone in the Indo-US defence relationship, reflecting a mutual desire to enhance military collaboration, exchange strategic perspectives on global threat perceptions, and work together towards future force development and modernization. The engagements between General Manoj Pande and senior leadership of the United States Army are expected to yield substantive outcomes, fostering an environment conducive to shared security interests and defence cooperation.

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