Amidst Malabar, Antony says naval exercises for maintaining good order at sea

The Left parties vitriolic attack against the UPA governments tilt to the US notwithstanding, the Indian Government today, in the backdrop of multination naval exercise with the US, said that the joint exercises are very important to maintain good order at sea.

New Delhi, Sept 5 : The Left parties vitriolic attack against the UPA government's 'tilt' to the US notwithstanding, the Indian Government today, in the backdrop of multination naval exercise with the US, said that the joint exercises are very important to maintain 'good order at sea'.

"India also holds interactions and joint exercises with some other countries including USA. In such interactions, issues of mutual interest, including providing security to sea-lanes in the Indian Ocean Region are also discussed," Defence Minister A K Antony told Rajya Sabha today.

"Patrolling along India's International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), co-operation with India's maritime neighbours in the field of sharing information on ship movement and platform signature etc. and joint exercises are some other measures for maintaining good order at sea in the region," he added.

After rapping the Government for moving ahead with the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Left leaders are taking out procession along the eastern coast of India against the Malabar naval exercise where US aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates are participating in a big way along with ships from Japan, Singapore and Australia.

The five-day naval exercise, where two US aircraft carriers-USS Nimitz, USS Kitty Hawk- along with one Indian aircraft carrier- Viraat- is participating, has come under Left's severe criticism, as according to the Communists, growing defence relations with the US, and building strategic alliance with the West is against the Common Minimum Programme that forms the basis for the Left Front's support to the Congress-led coalition.

On Tuesday, CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat had said that the UPA's pro-US tilt is 'hampering country's sovereign and independent foreign policy'.

However, Antony today said that the country recognises "its role and responsibilities in maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean" and added that India and USA have agreed to the conclusion of a Maritime Cooperation Framework (MCF) to prevent piracy and other trans-national crimes at sea.

India's security and strategic analysts have already stated about growing influence of China in the Indian Ocean region and the Chinese close association with Pakistan and many South East Asian countries, including Myanmar that could be detriment to New Delhi's security.

There has also been greater concern about the security of the Malacca Straits that controls a large chunk of global energy trade, as dangers from non-state actors are rising in the region.

ANI