The Hindu : National : U.S. Defence Secretary to visit India

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Sunday, Dec 16, 2007
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U.S. Defence Secretary to visit India

Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI: U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates will visit India early next year, said a senior U.S. official. The dates of his visit were not fixed.

Mr. Gates would be seeking to draw India into a closer relationship with the U.S. military as well as armament companies.

“The visit is an indication of the strengthening relationship between the two countries,” said the official.

Senior officials to visit

His visit is being preceded by that of several senior officials to persuade India to sign the Access and Cross Servicing Agreement which allows the two militaries to source supplies from each other and settle the account later.

The U.S. is also keen that India joins the Proliferation Security Initiative, a coalition of nations that allows members to intercept ships carrying their flags if suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction.

With an extensive record of service within the American intelligence establishment, Mr. Gates was accused of establishing clandestine military links between Washington and both Iran and Iraq during the Ronald Reagan regime.

Peace mission

He undertook a peace mission in 1990 to Pakistan and India during the elder Bush’s Presidency.

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