NEW DELHI: The US and Indian militaries will carry out large-scale jointexercises off India next year, top officials said Thursday.
The drills would be a first of sorts — the two countries’ forces have notpreviously trained simultaneously in the air, on the land and at sea.
Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made the announcement at the endof a summit with US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Secretary of State MikePompeo and Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.
“We have decided to carry out for the first time a tri-services jointexercise with the United States off the eastern coast of India in 2019,”Sitharaman said.
The two countries also signed a “Communications Compatibility and SecurityAgreement”, known as COMCASA, that will enable them to exchange sensitivemilitary information quickly and securely.
Mattis and Sitharaman signed the COMCASA agreement at a brief ceremonyearlier Friday.
The US only signs COMCASA agreements with trusted allies, and Washingtonhopes to deepen its military ties with India.
Washington, however, is concerned about an imminent deal India is makingwith Russia to buy the S-400 missile system.
None of the officials who spoke after the talks made any reference to wherethings stand on that issue.
India and the US also vowed closer cooperation in counterterrorismoperations. APP/AFP