Great opportunities for Indo-US maritime cooperation: Pentagon

Washington, Feb 27: The US has said great opportunities for co-operation on maritime issues with India have emerged after the bilateral meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama.

"We have a great opportunity emerging now with the (US) President and Prime Minister Modi's recent get-together, with India and what that partnership means," Admiral Jonathan Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations told members of the House Committee on Appropriations during a hearing on Thursday.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said the bilateral Malabar US-Indian naval exercise, which has grown in scope and complexity since its first iteration, has fostered mutual understanding with Indian counterparts and enhanced their ability to operate with one another in a wide range of missions.

"This year, the Maritime Self-Defence Force from Japan joined the exercise in an important demonstration of multilateral cooperation between Pacific and Indian Ocean nations. The relationship between the nations of the Pacific and the Indian Oceans will continue to be critical in these important maritime regions," Mabus said.

President Obama had arrived in India for a 3-day visit in January this year, during which both the countries broke a seven-year logjam to operationalise a landmark civil nuclear deal, besides enhancing defence and trade ties.

PTI