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Indian, U.S. navies gearing for big exercise

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington Sept. 18. The navies of India and the United States are getting ready for the largest-ever combined exercises off the coast of Kochi in about two weeks. About 3,000 to 4,000 personnel will be involved in it, according to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Madhvendra Singh.

Admiral Madhvendra Singh, who is here at the invitation of Admiral Vernon Clark, Chief of U.S Naval Operations, said the Malabar Exercises, the fourth in the series since 1993, would see the participation of a U.S cruiser and destroyer, maritime aircraft and perhaps, a submarine. A destroyer, a frigate, a tanker, a submarine and maritime patrol aircraft will participate on India's behalf. The four-to-five day exercises is a "two-way learning process'', involving manoeuvres, cross-deck helicopter landings and work of tactical nature as well.

The visit of Admiral Madhvendra Singh has come in the wake of broadening and deepening context of the military-to-military relationship between the two countries. The Admiral referred to the positive attitude of the U.S. Navy and held out the hope that in future the two navies would work together in the Indian Ocean.

The naval chief held extensive consultations with the top U.S. naval brass at the Pentagon and outside and visited several facilities in Norfolk, Newport, Seattle, Hawaii and San Diego. The official interactions included meetings with the Commanders-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic and Pacific Fleets as also a meeting with Admiral Thomas Fargo, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command.

"The two sides have had an intense interface on defence matters over the last year and have reiterated their desire to further strengthen the defence relationship during Admiral Madhvendra Singh's current visit.

The two sides also had an extensive exchange of views on global and regional security issues,'' a press statement said.

Admiral Madhvendra Singh drew attention to the fact that the Indian Navy had placed one ship in the Straits of Malacca, but patrolling of the Strait, notorious for piracy, was different from interdicting ships and vessels that might be having fleeing Al-Qaeda operatives.

The patrolling of the Strait was not directed at any country; it was merely protecting the sea-lanes of communication. India had neither joined, nor had any intention of hunting the fleeing Al-Qaeda cadre at sea, he said.

India was looking for a used aircraft carrier and negotiations with the Russians had been going on in this regard.

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