The US congratulated General Bipin Rawat on being appointed India's first Chief of Defense Staff, saying that it would help in increasing defense cooperation between the two countries. General Rawat was appointed India's first Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) on Monday. The task of the CDS will be to bring better synergy in the functioning of the Army, Navy and Air Force and further strengthen the military strength of the country.
His appointment to the newly created post comes at a time when he retired from his three-year tenure as army chief a day later. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Alice G. Wells, tweeted on Monday and congratulated General Bipin Rawat on being appointed India's first Chief of Defense Staff.
Wells said, "This position will help increase greater Indo-US joint cooperation between our forces as discussed in the recent two plus two talks." Defense cooperation between the two countries accelerated in the last decade and a half has increased from however, high-level talks between the two countries were not being sustained as the protocol lacked due to the lack of an equivalent position as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In the US, this position is held by General Mark A. Miley. General Rawat's appointment as CDS is expected to enhance dialogue between the top military leadership in India and the US.
