US Pacific Command Admiral Keating in India to Discuss 'South Asian' Issues
Dated 13/5/2009
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Admiral Timothy J Keating, the US Pacific Command chief, will be in India on a day-long visit today to discuss issues concerning the South Asian region in the wake of the Taliban crisis in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Admiral Keating's visit comes just before he hands over command to his successor Admiral Robert Willard, who was named to the post by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates soon after Barack Obama took office as the President.
The US Admiral, during his stay in the capital, would meet his Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta and share notes on the security concerns of the region, Navy sources said here today.
Keating heads the US forces in the Asia-Pacific region comprising nearly 2.5 lakh troops and five aircraft carrier strike groups.
India and the US have just completed their annual Malabar series of Naval exercises, which is normally a bilateral event but included Japan this time around. They were held between April 29 and May 3.
The visit also gains significance, as US has been asking India to sign three bilateral deals including Logistics Support Agreement, which would ensure free access to US warships and aircraft to India air and sea ports for refuelling and replenishment of supplies.
