US sees greater role for Indian Navy in ensuring sealane-security

New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) The United States envisions a greater role for ''a professional force'' like the Indian Navy in maintaining secure sealanes in the south east Asian region.

The Indian Navy could ensure security on the energy trade routes -- including the Malacca Straits -- by patrolling these sealanes for operations including anti-piracy and other transnational crimes at sea, search and rescue, anti-pollution measures at sea and rescue- and-relief during natural disasters, averred a visiting US four-star officer here today.

US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Gary Roughead, currently here, discussed with the Indian Navy brass and South Block officials the final modalities of the Indo-US Maritime Cooperation Framework (MCF) -- which, since US President George W Bush's March 2006 visit here, looks to intensifying bilateral cooperation in the Indian Ocean.

Seeking to put the proposed Indo-US MCF on the fast track, Adm Roughead told mediapersons here that his visit -- one of three high-level visits to New Delhi by senior US military officials this month -- reflected the determination in both capitals to enhance the pace of ongoing maritime cooperation to serve mutual interests.

Washington is keen to get India on board for energy security in the region and sees the Indian Navy's growth in capability as an adjunct to its own swelling operational commitments in South Asian waters.

And both sides see MCF as a logical conclusion to the escort assistance provided by the Indian Navy to US merchant vessels passing through the Straits of Malacca after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Post-9/11, Washington's request to India for escorting its naval vessels in the Malacca Straits marked the beginning of a new chapter in Indo-US strategic engagement. The joint operations off Malacca Straits were also Washington's endorsement of India's strategic imprint stretching beyond South Asia to neighbouring Southeast Asia.

In this respect, the Indian Navy stands out as a stabilising force through its partnership with the US and other Navies to secure this region. Washington's decision to form a four-nation coalition group with India, Australia and Japan for relief operations in tsunami-affected countries was another feather in Indo-US naval cooperation in the Indian Ocean.

The proposed MCF would address emergent threats and enhance cooperative capabilities including through logistics support.

Besides, a mutual logistics support agreement would allow each side to use maintenance, berthing and support services of the other side during deployments.

Admiral Roughead, who emphasised inter-operability as the ''most important priority'' between the two Navies, said his discussions with the Naval topbrass in New Delhi included sharing of technology and policy.

''What is important is how do we make sure we are able to share information from both a technical as well as a policy point of view... It is from that sharing of information that we open up the opportunities to work in areas such as maritime security... Before you can do any type of operation you really have to have a common understanding....'' The Admiral felt that the Indian and US Navies should go beyond exercises and look to expanding their relationship to enhance inter-operability for providing security.

Praising the ''professionalism'' of the Indian Navy, Adm Roughead said both the forces should not simply be thinking in terms of this exercise or that exercise but as two very capable navies.

''How do we operate in the region... What are some of our shared objectives and interests... How should our leadership interact and what should our agenda be....'' The sentiments notwithstanding, the Indian Navy will participate as Observer in as many as five upcoming multilateral exercises -- including the 'Valiant Shield' off Hawaii and CARAT and SEACAT in the south east Asian waters.

UNI DG RL BD1647