After enhancing interoperability of its navies through regular exercises, the United States is looking at a possibility of joint air force exercises.
US Ambassador to India Richard R Verma said that United States would like India to take part in the US air force’s Exercise Red Flag and that India and US coming together in the region would only enhance peace.
Talking to the media in the city, after returning from a visit to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt to observe Exercise Malabar in the Bay of Bengal, on Sunday, Richard Verma said that the level of cooperation demonstrated by the navies could be replicated by the air forces too.
Reacting to a question on the concern raised by Pakistan on the India, US and Japan partnership for naval exercises, Verma said that “India-US defence relationship stands by itself. The real impact of the US and India, which share democratic values, coming together will be an increase in peace and prosperity.”
“The exercise being held in the Bay of Bengal showed that the three navies are more interoperable from basics to the complex environment. All three navies could enhance skills to prepare for situations in which we may jointly operate. The three nations are natural partners, have democracy, civilian control.”
He also said that the trilateral meet was to emphasis on freedom of navigation and to maintain maritime security. “US and India have already committed to this joint vision statement for the Asia Pacific,” he added.
“Though each of the naval forces were operating from the world’s most modern ships and aircraft, what impressed me most was the level of cooperation demonstrated by the officers and sailors from each of the countries necessary to operate safely at sea, while conducting exercises that support regional maritime security,” he said.
The next level is going to be to co-produce and co-research military equipment. “We are committed to this. There were a lot of Indian officers who were part of working groups who may like to learn to develop skills as India is developing an aircraft carrier,” Verma said.
The six-day Exercise Malabar, a complex, high-end war fighting exercise conducted to advance multi-national maritime relationships and mutual security goals, is being held at Bay of Bengal amidst concern raised by China. Richard Verma said that “We have had a lot of contact with China. This is not to create a distance with China.”
This year, the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force has joined the Indian and US navies in the exercise which includes reconnaissance, surface and anti-submarine warfare, medical operations, damage control, explosive ordnance disposal, helicopter operations and visit board search and seizure.
Source from India Defence News.
