Readout of Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr., Commander, United
States Pacific Command Meeting With India Minister of Defence Manohar Parrikar at Camp Smith, Hawaii
PACOM Director of Media Operations, U.S. Army Major Dave
Eastburn provided the following readout:
In a milestone event today, Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr.,
Commander, United States Pacific Command, met with India Defence Minister Manohar
Parrikar at Camp Smith, Hawaii, in the first-ever visit by an India Defense
Minister to the Hawaii-based headquarters.
In
the meeting, Adm. Harris and Minister Parrikar discussed the growth of the
strategic partnership between the two nations and how routine, regular and
predictable engagements strengthen that partnership. The two also emphasized the importance of
expanded maritime security cooperation within the context of broader
military-to-military ties, especially in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.
Admiral Harris encouraged senior Indian military leadership
to participate in next year’s Chief of Defense Conference and how the
conference is an important venue to build the relationships that will underpin
security and stability throughout the region.
The
two leaders discussed the continuance of the maritime security cooperation, the
potential for joint U.S. – India maritime patrols, and the value of
foundational agreements such as a logistics support agreement and a
communications and information security memorandum of agreement. They also discussed Exercises Malabar, Yudh
Abhyas, Red Flag, Vajra Prahar, and RIMPAC, reemphasizing that the United
States is still India’s partner of choice for exercises and
military-to-military engagements.
Adm.
Harris and Minister Parrikar expressed their commitment to a strong partnership
and to continuing to build on the relationship in the future.