New Delhi: In a move underscoring the accelerating strategic alignment between New Delhi and Washington, India’s Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Gen Upendra Dwivedi, reached the historic Fort Shafter in Hawaii this week. The visit, a cornerstone of India’s proactive military diplomacy, focuses on deepening bilateral defense cooperation and harmonizing a shared vision for a ‘free and open’ Indo-Pacific.
Upon his arrival, Gen Dwivedi was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Fort Shafter, the headquarters of the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC). The ceremony set a formal tone for extensive deliberations with Gen Ronald P. Clark, Commanding General of USARPAC.
The discussions between the two generals, flanked by senior military leadership, centered on operationalizing the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) within the land force domain. Key agenda items included:
- Enhanced Interoperability: Streamlining joint training methodologies and multi-domain operations.
- Regional Security: Collaborative strategies to maintain peace and stability amidst shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
- Technology Transfer: Exploring joint ventures in defense manufacturing and co-production.
Beyond the diplomatic corridors, Gen Dwivedi undertook an extensive aerial tour of Oahu Island. This survey provided the COAS with a strategic overview of the US military’s sophisticated training infrastructure. The tour focused on jungle and littoral warfare ecosystems, offering the Indian Army chief first-hand insights into the US Army’s multi-domain operational readiness, integrating land, cyber, and space capabilities.
This visit comes on the heels of several high-level exchanges, including the recent Air Staff Talks, signalling a synchronized effort by the Indian Armed Forces to bolster ties with US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM).
As India continues its military modernization and structural reforms, including the move toward Integrated Theatre Commands, Gen Dwivedi’s engagement in Hawaii serves as a vital touchpoint. It reaffirms that the India-US Defence partnership has graduated from buyer-seller transactions to a robust strategic pillar essential for regional deterrence.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.