NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday visited US military establishments, facilities and the naval fleet at Hawaii, including the headquarters of the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) that looks after the entire Indo-Pacific or Asia-Pacific region.
After the two-plus-plus dialogue in Washington, which chalked out an ambitious agenda to take forward defence ties, Singh was received at Honolulu by INDOPACOM chief Admiral John Aquilino on his arrival there for a brief visit before he heads back to India.
The INDOPACOM and Indian armed forces have wide-ranging engagements, including several military exercises, training events and exchanges, which are set to widen in scope against the backdrop of China’s continuing belligerence in the Indo-Pacific.
Singh also stressed, after the two-plus-two dialogue, that both India and US share a common vision of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region. “Our partnership is of critical importance for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region,” he had said.