The newfound momentum in India-US ties has provided the "most promising strategic opportunity" to the US military, in particular its Pacific Command (PACOM), its top commander told lawmakers today.
"The new found momentum in our bilateral relationship with India represents USPACOM's most promising strategic opportunity," PACOM Commander Admiral Harry B Harris told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Harris said in January 2015, President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed a Joint Strategic Vision of the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.
"This landmark document presents shared views and interests for the region," he said.
"The US-India military-to-military relationship deepens as forces increasingly train and operate together," he added.
Harris said the Pacific Command intends to add momentum to an important relationship.
"Through this end, I have made improving the military- to-military with India a formal Line of Effort at USPACOM," he said. The commander is likely to visit India soon.
In June 2015, during Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter's visit to India, the two countries renewed the 10-year Defence Framework Agreement.
In 2015, US and India militaries participated together in three major exercises and 62 other military exchanges covering scenarios ranging from high-end warfare to humanitarian assistance and disaster response, he said.
Harris said the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) further expands opportunities.
US defence sales to India are at an all-time high and US-sourced airframes, such as P-8s, C-130Js, C-17s, AH-64s and CH-47s, increase interoperability, he said.
The Pacific Command will advance the partnership with India by expanding the scope of military-to-military interactions, Harris said.
