India recently inducted the multi-role heavylift CHINOOK helicopters into the Indian Air Force

He said as part of that "effort exchanges, reciprocal visits between American and Indian defence officials, they are increasing at an unprecedented pace."

Defence and co-operation between India and the US is expanding rapidly, the Trump administration said Tuesday, asserting that exchanges and reciprocal visits of officials was increasing at an “unprecedented” pace between the two nations.

“The United States, India defends the security, cooperation is rapidly expanding as part of our deepening strategic partnership and India is one of the secure–premier security partners in the Indo Pacific region,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino told reporters at his biweekly news conference.

He said as part of that “effort exchanges, reciprocal visits between American and Indian defence officials, they are increasing at an unprecedented pace.”

“We (the United States), seek to expand our defence and security cooperation with India and that includes defence and security officials and I will stop there,” Palladino said, responding to a question as to why visas of at least two Indian defence officials were recently been denied for attending an official meeting in the US. The officials were part of an Indian delegation for defence and security related meetings in the US.