Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba will begin a five-day visit to the U.S. on Monday during which he will hold extensive talks with the top military brass of the Trump administration to consolidate bilateral naval cooperation, including in the Indo-Pacific region.
Admiral Lanba will hold discussions with Defence Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of the U.S. Navy Richard V Spencer, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph F Dunford Jr., Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John M Richardson and Commander of Pacific Command Admiral Harry Harris, a senior Navy official said. The Navy chief will also meet Commander of Pacific Fleet Admiral Scott Swift and Commander of Naval Sea Systems Command Vice Admiral Thomas J Moore.
“The visit aims to consolidate cooperation between the Armed Forces of both India and the U.S. and also to explore new avenues of defence cooperation,” the Defence Ministry said.
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Sources said China’s growing military presence in South China Sea may figure in the talks.