(Image source from: economictimes.indiatimes.com)

Following so many associations with the United Stated, the collaboration of the nations is about to happen yet again. The tri-services exercise is all set to be held for the very first time in Visakhapatnam in the coming month of November. The same was clarified by the US consul general, Joel Riefman in Hyderabad. He said so on his maiden visit to Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh recently.

Reifman was present in the city to welcome the submarine tender from the US Navy, Emory S Land where it made its maiden visit to the state of Visakhapatnam.

Addressing the success of his trip around, the consul general, Joel Riefman said that he already had some lingering discussions about the submarines and such with the Indian Navy officials. This is considered the very first time that an US Naval ship visited Visakhapatnam. These kinds of substantive exchanges between these two naives are believed to further bolster better coordination. Not just that, this collaboration between the two nations on the sea is set to enhance the security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Throwing some light on the strong defence ties between the two countries, the consul general further stated saying, “Joint defence production would commence in Hyderabad. The wings of US-based F21 and F16 fighter jet aircrafts will be produced in Hyderabad soon. Defence collaboration is increasing and bilateral ties are getting stronger.”

The consul general also met the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Jaganmohan Reddy on October 15th, 2019 and said that apart from the defence ties, there are a number of other bilateral trades happening around as well in the fields of tech firms, food processing, energy, and shrimp industry and so on and so forth. The trade relationships are extending and the tri-service exercise is set to enhance that even further.

By Somapika Dutta