There is a possibility of expansion of Malabar naval exercise in future, although any decision on this will have to be taken by all four. quad member countriesAdmiral Michael Gilday, the head of US naval operations, said on Tuesday. Admiral Gilday, on a five-day visit to India from October 11 to 15, described the strategic relationship between India and the US as “central” to a free and open one. Indo-Pacific, given that there is a lot to “celebrate” in a relationship.
His remarks on possible expansion of the scope of the Malabar exercise in future came on a day when the second phase of the mega naval wargame between all the four quad countries – India, the US, Australia and Japan – began in the Bay of Bengal. “Of course in the future, that exercise may expand. I think it is up to the partners inside the Quad to discuss it. But remember that there are many exercises every year in the Indo Pacific and globally where similar Ideological allies and partners work together,” Admiral Gilday told a small group of reporters at an online briefing.
He was responding to a question whether countries like the UK are likely to join the mega naval wargame in the future. On Tuesday, the chief of US naval operations held extensive talks with Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla with a focus on promoting overall bilateral maritime security cooperation.
“We are committed to operating our #USIndiaDefense partnership, which includes information-sharing, regional security and exercising at sea together,” Admiral Gilday tweeted after talks with Admiral Singh. Admiral Gilday’s visit to India comes amid growing concerns over rising Chinese muscle flexibility in major waterways, including the Indo-Pacific. “I believe that together we can build a partnership that is appropriate for the challenges of today and tomorrow,” he said.
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When asked whether the tripartite AUKUS Security Coalition The top US naval commander did not give a direct answer, but said the US and India have formed a “natural partnership” and that the two countries are bound by the shared values of promoting a free and open war. ensuring the maritime domain, regional stability, the rule of law and respect for international institutions. In this context, he also referred to the threat of global authoritarianism and the long, healthy and positive relationship between India and the US.
“India is one of our closest strategic partners and our relationship is central to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he said. The Ocus (Australia, UK and US) partnership was unveiled by US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister. Scott Morrison and British PM Boris Johnson last month.
Admiral Gilday said his talks in India focused primarily on the Indian Ocean, which he called a strategically important waterway that is important not only for Asia but for the entire world. To a specific question on bilateral naval cooperation, he said that both India and the US use each other’s ports, airfields and refueling capacity for ships and cooperation is getting stronger.
On China’s expansion of its naval prowess, he said the trajectory of Chinese investment has been strong and the US is also strengthening its capabilities. He said the US naval presence in the Indo-Pacific is a testament to its capabilities and that it has “asymmetric” advantages over its allies and allies globally.
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