Appointment of CDS will boost defence ties: US

Washington, December 31

The US has congratulated General Bipin Rawat on his appointment as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, saying this will help “catalyse” greater defence cooperation between the two countries.

Gen Rawat was on Monday appointed to the post with a mandate to bring in convergence in functioning of the Army, the Navy and the Indian Air Force and bolster the country’s military prowess.

“Congrats to General Bipin Rawat” on his appointment as India’s first-ever Chief of Defence Staff, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice G Wells said in a tweet on Monday soon after his elevation.

“The position will help catalyse greater US-India ‘joint’ cooperation between our militaries as discussed at recent 2+2, including through joint exercises and info sharing,” Wells said.

Defence to defence cooperation between the two countries have increased tremendously in the last decade and a half.

However, the highest level of interaction between the two countries had not been happening frequently because of lack of protocol in the sense of absence of an equivalent of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The current position in the US is being held by Gen Mark A Milley.

The appointment of Gen Rawat as the first Chief of Defence Staff is expected to increase interaction between the top military leadership of India and the US. — PTI