Manohar Parrikar has visited the US Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii, becoming the the first-ever Indian Defence Minister to visit the key facility in a sign of deepening of military ties between the two strategic partners. Parriakr held meetings with the PACOM Commander Admiral Harry B Harris and discussed the growth of the strategic partnership between the two nations. The two also emphasised the importance of expanded maritime security cooperation within the context of broader military-to-military ties, especially in the Indo-Asia- Pacific.

Parrikar and Harris also discussed the continuance of the maritime security cooperation, the potential for joint US India maritime patrols, and the value of foundational agreements such as a logistics support agreement and a communications and information security memorandum of agreement. They also discussed Exercises Malabar, Yudh Abhyas, Red Flag, Vajra Prahar, and RIMPAC, re-emphasising that the United States is still India’s partner of choice for exercises and military-to-military engagements.

Parrikar is scheduled to meet US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter at the Pentagon on December 10. This is his first visit to the US as the Indian Defence Minister.