The Director of Strategic Planning and Policy for US Pacific Command concluded a three day visit to Sri Lanka this week.
The United States’ Major General Steven R Rudder met with Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence Staff and visited the Western Area Naval Command.
During his visit he discussed “areas for future cooperation in the critical issues of maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and United Nations Peace Keeping Operations,” according to a US Embassy press release.
He is the first senior leader from Pacific Command Headquarters to visit Sri Lanka, and his trip comes after talks between senior military leaders from US 7th Fleet, Sri Lanka’s Navy and Airforce last month.
Commenting on the visit, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap claimed Sri Lanka is “a key player in regional efforts to ensure maritime security, respond to natural disasters, and protect freedom of navigation”.
Also see our earlier posts:
US navy ship docks in Colombo ‘further strengthening partnership’ (27 Mar 2016)
US and Sri Lanka discuss bilateral military training and cooperation (04 Apr 2016)
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