U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter completed his visit to the Eastern Naval Command in the port city of Vishakapatnam this afternoon, where he met with senior Navy officials and toured the INS Sahyadri, India’s indigenous stealth frigate, before departing for New Delhi for talks with Indian government officials.
Carter’s trip to India is part of his focus on the U.S. rebalance to Asia. Specifically, his trip to Vishakapatnam showcased his commitment to maritime security and the need for a regional security architecture that creates transparency and trust among regional partners. In India, this positive momentum is especially tangible as Carter will sign the 2015 U.S.-India Defense Framework Agreement with his counterpart, Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, which will help expand the defense relationship between the two countries.
In New Delhi, Secretary Carter is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense Minister Parrikar, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
