India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan met with General Kevin B. Schneider, Commander of the Pacific Air Force and Air Component Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, in a high-level engagement aimed at strengthening bilateral defence ties.
The meeting was announced by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) in New Delhi.
In a post on X, HQ IDS said, “Deliberations underscored a shared resolve towards regional security and the enduring maintenance of peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” adding that the talks reflected a convergence of strategic thinking between the two countries at a time of increasing geopolitical competition in the region.
On a key outcome of the meeting, HQ IDS stated, “Both sides articulated a clear intent to expand and operationalise the scope, complexity, and frequency of bilateral and tri-service engagements.”
Tri-service exercises involve the army, navy, and air force operating together.
The two commanders also discussed the growing role of technology in shaping modern military power. Both sides acknowledged that technological capability is now a defining factor in national security and agreed to enhance cooperation in this domain. The partnership, according to HQ IDS, continues to evolve with greater capability and strategic foresight.
The meeting is the latest in a series of high-level defence interactions between the two countries. In recent years, India and the United States have significantly expanded military cooperation through frameworks such as the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) and landmark agreements covering logistics, communications and geospatial intelligence sharing. The Indo-Pacific has for some time been a central focus for both nations, with shared concerns over freedom of navigation, maritime security and the stability of regional trade routes.
Meanwhile, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi is currently on an official visit to the United States, where he was inducted into the US Army Hall of Fame—a rare honour recognising his distinguished service and contributions to bilateral defence relations.
His visit comes only days after Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh travelled to the US for defence talks. One of the highlights of that visit was Air Chief Marshal Singh flying the F-15EX fighter jet at Nellis Air Force Base.
Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi had also visited the United States in November 2025.
No Date Yet for Quad Leaders’ Summit
While military engagement between the two countries remains at a high tempo, there is no word yet on when the next Quad leaders’ summit will take place. The last such meeting was held in September 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware, hosted by then-President Joe Biden. The 2025 Quad Leaders’ Summit, which was expected to be held in New Delhi with India as host, has yet to take place.
At the diplomatic level, the Foreign Ministers of the United States, Australia, India and Japan met in Washington D.C. in July 2025 for the 10th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.