Growing naval cooperation between US, India sends powerful message: US Navy Chief

Mumbai, Oct 15 (UNI) Providing a safe, secure, and stable maritime system is an imperative to all of mankind and not just for the navies of the US and India, said Chief of US Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday on Friday during his visit to the Western Naval Command here.

In his remarks to the Indian Navy, he said the cooperation between their two navies ensures that our most vital resource, seawater, is shared sustainably and responsibly.

“Cooperation, when applied with naval power, promotes freedom and peace and prevents coercion, intimidation, and aggression,” he said in thinly veiled allusion to China’s aggression in the Indian Ocean and South China Seas.

“And by growing our naval cooperation together, the two largest democracies in the world I might add, It sends a powerful message that illuminates the world we aspire to foster– A world that adheres to international commitments and the rule of law, where diplomacy and dialogue, not military force, are used to settle whatever differences we might have.”

“A world dedicated to the freedom of the seas, where commerce and ideas can flow freely across open oceans and seas and skies, connecting nations in bonds of fellowship.

“The price of peace, the cost of prosperity, is maintaining a vigilant watch on, under, and above the sea. Which is why we must keep a weather eye on the horizon and look ahead, because the breadth, reach, and lethality of naval warfare is changing at an explosive pace,” he added.

“Safe and secure seas cannot be preserved without a strong maritime force,” Gilday said.

He outlined three ways to prepare for the future of naval warfare, which he said are deeply rooted in partnership between the two navies.

“The first is Readiness. The fundamental application of our combined naval power, in peacetime and especially in times of competition, is to protect an increasingly globalized world. Prosperity comes from commerce, and commerce, my friends, floats on seawater.”

“Readiness is a critical part of our ability to act, to reduce tension, and to enhance stability across the spectrum of competition.”

”Not every nation shares our vision of a free and open world. Some seek to undermine its legitimacy by corroding international laws and norms, stealing resources and infringing upon the sovereignty of other nations,” he said, again in an oblique reference to China’s growing hegemonism in the seas.

“Safe and secure seas cannot be preserved without a strong maritime force … That is what we must deliver every single day.”

The second point, he mentioned, was “by building trust and by building interoperability”.

“In combined naval operations, the first element where we need trust is information itself, because information is the thread running through all warfare areas.”

“And this advantage bolsters our shared maritime-domain awareness on, above, and as we spoke, under the seas, providing naval forces the confidence to operate together in support of mutual objectives.”

“We strengthen trust and we build competency through multilateral exercises like Malabar, Tiger Triumph and RIMPAC”, he said. Rim of the Pacific Exercise is the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise.

“Simply operating is not enough, eager competitors are using technology and new operating models to change the rules of the game,” he said, mentioning it as Point three.

“Sea power in the information age requires effects to be distributed geographically, on, under, and above the seas, in the information environment, cyber domain, the electromagnetic spectrum, and in space.”

“In short, we need a ready, compatible, all-domain naval force to compete and importantly, keep the peace. Through continued engagement and integration, we will ensure security and prosperity for the Indian people the American people and people all across the world,” ge added.

“So let us sail together and fly together side-by-side and the guarantee free and open seas.”
“Let us work together hand-in-hand and continue to make the Indo-Pacific a beacon of hope for today … and tomorrow.

“Our relationship is unwavering and the United States Navy is committed to maintaining a steady course of naval cooperation, and growing the connections between our two navies. I am committed to that. Without a doubt, our greatest strength lies in unity,” he added.

On Thursday, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Chief of US Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday witnessed the Malabar exercise in the Bay of Bengal.

The US Navy hosted 12 Indian officers aboard its aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. The navies of India, US, Australia and Japan — the Quad countries — are conducting a six-day (October 12 -17) sea exercise ‘Malabar-phase 2’.
This comes within six weeks of the first phase of the exercise conducted between August 26 and 29 off Guam, an island territory of the US east of the Philippines.