CDS Anil Chauhan participates in Quad military chiefs meeting

New Delhi: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has participated in a significant meeting of the military chiefs of Quad countries that was held in California. During the meeting, Gen Chauhan presented Indias views on fostering peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. 

Meanwhile, a planned summit of Quad leaders from the United States, India, Australia, and Japan in Sydney next week has been canceled after US President Joe Biden pulled out of his visit, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday, adding that talks could still proceed as leaders visit Japan.

The Quad military chiefs meeting was hosted by Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Christopher Aquilino at Sunnylands in California. The Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue was also being attended by Japan's Chief of Joint Staff General Yoshida Yoshihide and the Chief of the Australian Defence Force General Angus Campbell. 

"General Anil Chauhan CDS put forth India's views in the 1st session 'Deterrence Through Effective Partnerships'," said Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff.  

The Sunnylands dialogue began just as the US Air Force wrapped up a bilateral fighter training exercise 'Cope Thunder' with the Philippine Air Force – the first since 1990 – at Clark Air Base on Luzon Island to strengthen the defence of the region with its allies and like-minded forces.

As reported by IndiaNarrative.com, Washington has maintained that India remains a key pillar in US strategy in the Indo-Pacific region as it builds alliances and partnerships to the ongoing implementation of the US National Defence Strategy. 

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane is also in the U.S. His visit assumes significance as it is happening weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Washington tour.

During the visit, Defence Secretary Aramane will meet Dr Colin Kahl, the under Secretary of defence for policy. Kahl was national security advisor to Joe Biden, when he was Vice President, under President Barack Obama.

During the meeting, both sides are supposed to discuss entire gamut of defence ties. US -India engagement in the defence sector over the last two decades has paused at USD 20 billion, dominated mainly by government to government and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) exchanges. 

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