Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew J. Shapiro will travel to India and Bangladesh from April 15-19, 2012.

In New Delhi, India, April 15-18, Assistant Secretary Shapiro will hold talks with senior civilian officials on defense trade, counter-piracy, and regional political-military issues, as well as the recovery and repatriation of U.S. service members lost during the Second World War. In recent years, the United States and India have significantly broadened their defense cooperation, as demonstrated by our robust engagement in bilateral dialogues, military exercises, and personnel exchanges, as well as nearly $9 billion in defense trade since 2008. The United States and India are also working together as active participants in the 60-nation Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, and are both among countries contributing naval forces to patrol regional waters.

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 19, Assistant Secretary Shapiro will lead the U.S. delegation in the first-ever U.S.-Bangladesh Dialogue on Security Issues. The dialogue will broaden and strengthen bilateral defense cooperation on a wide range of political-military issues, including continuing efforts to enhance partnerships in peacekeeping, joint military exercises and exchanges, counterterrorism, and security cooperation.