To further strengthen U.S.-India defense ties, I plan to play an active and very personal role

Chuck Hagel, Secretary of Defense, US, speaking
at the 13th IISS Asia Security Summit in Singapore

Said : Chuck Hagel, Secretary of Defense, US, in his speech at the 13th IISS Asia Security Summit (Shangri-La Dialogue) held from 30 May-01 June 2014 in Singapore. He was speaking on "The United States’ Contribution to Regional Stability" during the First Plenary Session on May 31, 2014.

International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) was founded in the UK in 1958 with a focus on nuclear deterrence and arms control. Today, it is also renowned for its annual Military Balance assessment of countries' armed forces and for its high-powered security summits, including the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Hagel reiterated President Obama's vision on the next phase of America’s foreign policy - particularly when the country has come out of 13 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hagel said : "President Obama made clear we will balance our diplomacy, our development assistance, and military capabilities, and that we will strengthen our global partnerships and alliances," as a part of implementing its strategy of rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific. "The rebalance is not a goal, not a promise, or a vision – it’s a reality," he added. 

Narendra Modi

15th Prime Minister of India

"The United States looks forward to working with India’s new government led by Prime Minister Modi. We welcome India’s increasingly active role in Asia’s regional institutions, which strengthens regional order. We also welcome India’s growing defense capabilities and its commitment to freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean."

Hagel described President Obama's comprehensive partnerships with Vietnam and Malaysia, over the last year, as steps in this direction. He also mentioned President Obama's summit with Chinese President Xi, and his visits, in April, to five regional treaty allies – Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines – as well as Malaysia. 

Hagel described India as "one of the United States’ most important, democratic partners – and a country with historic influence across Asia," giving indications that America’s global partnerships also reach across the Asian continent. 

On the possible partnership with India, he said "The United States looks forward to working with India’s new government led by Prime Minister Modi. We welcome India’s increasingly active role in Asia’s regional institutions, which strengthens regional order. We also welcome India’s growing defense capabilities and its commitment to freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean. To further strengthen U.S.-India defense ties, I am directing the Pentagon’s Undersecretary for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics to lead the U.S.-India Defense Trade and Technology Initiative with India’s new government. I plan to play an active and very personal role in expanding this initiative because it is a centerpiece of America’s defense cooperation with India, and it should reflect the trust and confidence President Obama and I have in our nation’s relationship with India. To reinforce this effort – and to drive even more transformational cooperation – I hope to visit India later this year."