New Delhi: India and US are in talks to
convert its bilateral Malabar series of naval exercises into a
joint services war game involving their navies, air forces and
marine commandos.
US Pacific Command chief Admiral Robert F Willard, who
is on a two-day visit to India, said both nations` militaries
had "joint capabilities" but that needed to be practised and
hence the idea to involve both countries` air forces and
marine commandos in the exercise.
"On both sides, there has been a desire to increase
the complexity of the (Malabar) exercise and conduct it in a
more joint fashion, by which I mean combining services of the
respective nations together... the IAF and Indian Navy
conducting a joint exercise in conjunction and in our case, US
Navy and Air Force or US Marine Corps," Willard said.
The opportunity to combine services was in itself a
complexity and a challenge, he said.
Calling the 2007 multi-lateral Malabar war games
involving navies as "exceedingly effective exercises," Willard
said a repeat of the five-nation exercise needed to be
explored, keeping in mind the "sensitivities" in India, in an
apparent reference to the Left parties` vociferous protest in
this regard.
"The choice of how the Malabar exercise series should
evolve is very much under dialogue with India, the host
nation. If there are sensitivities regarding Malabar being
multi-national exercise in the Indian Ocean Region, then there
are other ways by which we can explore to make the exercise
more complex and we do this," Willard said.
He said the US and Indian Navy counterparts had
discussed prospects of a more complex Malabar exercise to make
it meet the two nation`s needs.
In 2007, all participants -- US, India, Singapore,
Japan and Australia -- during Malabar exercise had learnt a
"great deal" from each other about coalition operations, which
are difficult and complex, and if it ever goes multi-national
again, there was "great benefit" for all concerned, he said.
On the possibility of a trilateral India-US-China
military arrangement in the Asia-Pacific region, Willard said
it was "premature", though both New Delhi and Washington were
engaging Beijing at a bilateral level.
Asked about China building an aircraft carrier, the US
commander said Beijing had shown "intent" on operationalising
the warship by 2015, for which "dedication and commitment" was
required as it was "an expensive and complex" process.
When queried if the long Indo-Russian military
relationship was a hindrance to US` engagement with India, he
said there was "no such invisible walls", as open discussions
took place on Russia between the two sides.
"In fact, the US is also improving relations with
Russia and we will have open relations with them," he said.
Bureau Report
