Washington, DC
September 17, 2002

Admiral Madhvendra Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy, accompanied by his wife, Mrs Kaumudi Kumari, is on an official visit to the United States from 7th to 18th September 2002,  at the invitation of Admiral Vernon E Clark, Chief of Naval Operations, US Navy.  Admiral Madhvendra Singh has met Mr. Douglas J Feith, Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, Ms Susan M Livingston, Under Secretary of the Navy, and has had official talks with Admiral Vernon Clark.

During the course of his stay, Admiral Madhvendra Singh visited US Navy bases and facilities in Norfolk, Newport, Seattle, Hawaii and San Diego.   His official interaction included meetings with Admiral   Robert J Natter, Commander-in-Chief, US Atlantic Fleet, Admiral Thomas B Fargo, Commander-in-Chief, US Pacific Command and Admiral Walter Doran, Commander-in-Chief, US Pacific Fleet.  He also visited the US Joint Forces Command Headquarters at Norfolk.

Admiral Madhvendra Singh’s visit culminates in Washington DC today after meetings with General Richard Myers, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff and General James L Jones, Commandant of the Marine Corps.  The Navy chief laid a wreath at the Arlington Memorial this morning and toured the National Defence University in the afternoon.

The Admiral’s visit assumes significance in the context of the Indo-US bilateral relationship.  The two sides have had an intense interface on defence matters over the last year, and have reiterated their desire to further strengthen the defence relationship during Admiral Madhvendra Singh’s current visit.   The two sides also had an extensive exchange of views on global and regional security issues.

As part of the growing Indo-US Defence Cooperation, Naval interaction between the two countries has intensified this year with the commencement of the Straits of Malacca joint escort mission in April; several port visits by US Naval ships to India followed by passing exercises; and,  a big increase in the number of Indian Naval officers training in the US. The revival of the ‘Malabar’ series of annual joint exercises (Malabar 2002) an advanced naval exercise scheduled in the Indian Ocean next month; and, the Search and Rescue exercises scheduled later this year; are further significant milestones in this cooperation.  Admiral Madhvendra Singh has extended an invitation to Admiral Vernon E Clark to visit India next year.

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For more information, contact:
Sunil Lal, Counsellor (Press & Information) at (202) 939-7042