Obama nominates Ashton Carter as Defence Secy

 Washington, December 5

The Indo-US defence relationship may now get personal attention with strong India-backer Ashton Carter today being nominated by President Barack Obama for the key post of the Defence Secretary.

If confirmed by the Senate, Carter would be Obama's fourth Pentagon chief in his roughly six-year administration.

A close confidant of Obama, Carter, 60, has served in his administration, in particular at the Pentagon in various capacities - the last being that of the Deputy Secretary of Defence, from October 2011 to December 2013.

"With a record of service that has spanned more than 30 years - as a public servant, as an advisor, as a scholar - Ash (Carter) is rightly regarded as one of our nation's foremost national security leaders," Obama said.

"As a top member of our Pentagon team for the first five years of my presidency, including his two years as deputy secretary, he was at the table in the Situation Room; he was by my side navigating complex security challenges that we were confronting. I relied on his expertise, and I relied on his judgment," said the US President. Carter, Obama said, brings a unique blend of strategic perspective and technical know-how.

Carter said he accepted the President's offer "because of the seriousness of the strategic challenges we face, but also the bright opportunities that exist for America if we can come together to grab hold of them. And I accepted the offer because of the deep respect and abiding love that Stephanie and I have for our men and women in uniform." If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace Chuck Hagel. 

In his capacity as Deputy Secretary of Defence, Carter was also the Pentagon's point person on India when he launched the path breaking Defense Trade and Technology Initiative. 

Also called the Carter-Menon initiative, Carter during his travel to India in September 2013 had submitted a list of more than a dozen hi-tech defence items for co-production and co-development with India. — PTI