Following his assumption of the post of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), COAS General Rajendra Chhetri has been making efforts to strengthen Nepal Army’s relations with various armies of the friendly countries.

During his visit to U.S., COAS General Chhetri attended International Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony where he was honored with International Hall of Fame Induction displaying his picture at the wall. Trained in US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, COAS General Chhetri was honored at Lewis and Clark Centre, Eisenhower Auditorium.

Attended by 1300 Army officers from 93 countries, International Hall of Fame Induction Award is given to those chiefs of army staff who received army training in US Army Command and General Staff College. COAS General Chhetri is 262nd Chief of Army Staff to receive the award.

Addressing the ceremony General Chhetri thanked the US government and US Army for honoring him with the award. He also inspected the International Hall of Fame. This award is conferred to those highest level army officers from other countries that were trained in US Army War College. COAS General Chhetri is the first Nepali COAS to receive IHOF.

As the country’s defense and diplomacy are very much interconnected, the visit of COAS General Chhetri to the United States of America has its own significance and importance. The U.S. Army has supported the Nepal Army in handling disasters. In the last earthquake, Nepal Army and U.S. Army worked side by side in the rescue operations.  Four U.S. Marines and two Nepal Army officers died in a U.S. Army helicopter crash.

In the last nine months of his tenure, COAS General Chhetri has already visited Nepal’s two neighbors India and China on the invitation of the respective governments. General Chhetri visited the United States of America on the invitation of U.S. Government.

COAS General Chhetri spent ten days in the United States of America. During his visit to US, COAS General Chhetri met high level American officials and military officials. He also met UN Officials and inspected US Army bases. COAS General Chhetri was accompanied by his wife Rita Chhetri and three other senior army officers.

”Nepal Army believes that this kind of a high level visit helps to strengthen the existing good bilateral relations and further strengthen the relations between the two armies,” said a press release.