CDS leaves for U.S. in maiden foreign visit

New Delhi: In his maiden foreign visit, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan today left for the U.S. where he is scheduled to participate in a crucial meeting on the Indo-Pacific region. 

As per defence officials, General Chauhan will attend a conference on the Indo-Pacific region organised by the Hoover Institute. He will also hold meetings with top military officers from US, Japan, Australia and the UK. 

The visit of the CDS is also taking place when the US is set to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state visit scheduled in June where he would also be attending a dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden.

The countries participating in the event are from the AUKUS and the QUAD groupings but sources clarified that the gathering is not part of any such groupings. 

For our readers, leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States in September 2021 announced the creation of an enhanced trilateral security partnership called "AUKUS. While, QUAD stands for 'Quadrilateral Security Dialogue' (QSD). It is an informal strategic forum comprising four nations, namely — United States of America (USA), India, Australia and Japan. One of the primary objectives of the Quad is to work for a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

The group met for the first time in 2007 on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It is considered an alliance of maritime democracies, and the forum is maintained by meetings, semi-regular summits, information exchanges and military drills of all the member countries.

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