Deputy Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) Lt Gen Joshua M Rudd arrived in Kathmandu on a four-day visit on Friday. After completing his visit and engagements in India and Bangladesh, Rudd, who leads a four-member delegation, arrived in Kathmandu, where he will call on the senior military officials including the Chief of the Army Staff, General Ashok Sigdel, among others.

Rudd’s visit to Kathmandu comes at a time when Donald Trump has re-elected president of the United States for a second time and ahead of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to China in the first week of December.

There is no specific agenda for his visit, but will visit some military training institutions and meet the army chief, said Nepal Army spokesperson Brigadier General Gaurav Kumar KC. While in Bangladesh, Rudd met with the Bangladeshi Chief of Army Staff, General Waqar-Uz-Zaman.

“As part of our shared commitment to a free, open, peaceful and secure Indo-Pacific region, we are thrilled to welcome Lieutenant General Rudd, deputy commander, US Indo-Pacific Command, to Bangladesh,” the US Embassy in Dhaka posted on the social media platform X, adding, “Together we strive for a prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”

In Kathmandu, besides meeting with army chief Sigdel, Rudd will visit the Birendra Peace Operations Training Center in Panchkhal of Kavrepalanchok district and the Shivapuri-based Nepal Army Command and Staff College, among others, according to spokesperson KC.

While in India, the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), Lt Gen Johnson P Mathew, and Lt General Rudd, co-chaired the 21st Military Cooperation Group (MCG) at the Manekshaw Centre.

“This latest meeting advanced shared objectives to strengthen US-India military-to-military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region, including the expansion of defense cooperation across all domains, including cyber and space,” said a statement issued by the US Indo-Pacific Command.

“We have a shared vision,” said Rudd.

“Being the oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy signifies much more than our form of governance. It defines who we are and outlines our core values; freedom, equality, respect for all humans and respect for this earth upon which we reside - together. We have no better opportunity to build on our success than with the renewal of the US-India Defense Framework scheduled in 2025. This is our opportunity to write about the future and continue a positive trajectory for our relationship and cooperation for decades to come,” the US Indo-Pacific statement further said.

After Lt General Rudd arrived in Kathmandu, the US Embassy Kathmandu welcomes three-star U.S. Army Lieutenant General and posted a small notice in social media platforms.

LTG Rudd will be the guest speaker for the 249th US Marine Corps Ball celebration this weekend and will also meet with senior government of Nepal officials and the Nepali Army during his visit here, said a notice posted by the US Embassy on Friday in Facebook.