NEW DELHI: Defence Minister A K Antony will lead a high-level delegation to the US this Sunday as part of efforts to strengthen military and strategic relations between New Delhi and Washington.
Though Antony has already discounted suggestions that he would be signing important defence agreements during the four-day visit, he is expected to discuss with his US counterpart Robert Gates issues aimed at furthering the already northward-moving ties between the two largest democracies of the world.
The Defence Minister is scheduled to hold meetings with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates in Washington on important bilateral issues relating to defence, top Defence Ministry sources said on Thursday.
Going at the invitation of the Gates, who was here in February this year, Antony will be in US three years after the then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee had visited Washington in June 2005.
During his visit, the Defence Minister is also scheduled to hold meetings with US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley and top Bush Administration officials.
The discussions are expected to revolve around regional security scenario and matters of mutual concern, sources said.
Antony's delegation would comprise Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, Director General (Acquisitions) S K Sharma and senior three-star officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force.
As India's military hardware purchases are expected to touch a staggering USD 50 billion in the next five years and to almost USD 100 billion by the next decade after New Delhi's Russian and Soviet-era arsenal reaches obsolescence, the two countries are already looking at joint collaborations and research in advanced weapon systems.
Towards this end, the two countries were looking at concluding key agreements to open doors for transfer of advanced American technology to India.
Antony's agenda during his talks with his US counterpart would be to substantially increase the complex range of naval, air force and army war games being jointly conducted by the armed forces of the two countries.
With the albatross of Left parties off its neck, the Congress-led UPA government and the US government are expected to give final touches to key defence protocols between the two countries and sewing up the controversial logistics support agreement.
