During U.S. defense secretary Ashton Carter’s recent visit to India, in a joint press conference along with India’s defense minister Manohar Parrikar it was agreed “in principle” to conclude a defense agreement that involves providing each other’s militaries with logistic support covering fuel, spares and repairs on a reimbursable or barter basis.
Carter and Parrikar reaffirmed their desire to expeditiously conclude a “white shipping” technical arrangement to improve data sharing on commercial shipping traffic and agreed to commence navy-to-navy discussions on submarine safety and anti-submarine warfare, reports Defense World. 60 per cent of the U.S. fleet will be in the Pacific-Indian Ocean area, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement.
Because the Indian peninsula is situated in a crucial sea-link between the Middle East and south-east Asia, a substantial number of U.S. naval ships and submarines transit through Indian ports which stand to gain more revenue.
Carter and Parrikar reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the region, including in the South China Sea.
