The relationship between the US, India and Japan is growing stronger as they share democratic values and interests in protecting the sea lanes of commerce, the top American commander in the Asia-Pacific said today.
Admiral Harry Harris, the head of the US Pacific Command, said the three countries also share respect for international law and the USPACOM is encouraging Australia's participation in the grouping to form a quadrilateral partnership "with a purpose."
The four countries working together will be "a force for the maintenance of the Global Operating System," he told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing.
India, Japan and the US currently participate in the increasingly complex annual Malabar military exercise as well as the multinational Rim of the Pacific exercise.
In 2007, Australia participated in the Malabar exercise, but withdrew from the drills and accompanying security talks following concerns raised by China. According to an ABC report last week, Australia is keen to rejoin the naval exercise this year.
Admiral Harris also said that India's designation as a 'major defence partner' placed New Delhi on par with closest allies with whom the US shares technology and defence trade. "India continues to emerge as a significant strategic partnership in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region."
In June 2016, India was designated a major defence partner by the US - a status unique to India. The finalisation of the designation was however announced in the India-US joint statement issued during US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter's visit to New Delhi in December.
The head of the USPACOM said American and Indian militaries participated together in three major exercises and more than 50 other military exchanges past year, in addition to conducting a joint-course in peacekeeping for 10 African partners.
"We signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) after more than a decade of negotiation to further deepen our military-to-military relationship and serve as a force multiplier during exercises and real world HA/DR operations," Harris said.
"We also held our first annual 2+2 US-India Maritime Security Dialogue last year to help identify and implement our common strategic interests," he added.
"Defence sales are at an all-time high with US-sourced airframes, such as P-8s, C-130Js, C-17s, AH-64s and CH-47s. We recently concluded a deal for 145 M777 howitzers. USPACOM will continue to advance the partnership with India as the 'new normal' by strengthening our relationship and working toward additional enabling agreements that enhance interoperability between our forces," Harris said.
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