Maintaining free and open access to the sea is an important and critical challenge and in this regard the navies of India and the United States are 'very closely aligned', Admiral Gary Roughead, the Commander of the American Pacific Fleet, said.
Talking to PTI at the Washington Foreign Press Center, he said, "One of the reasons we have been very effective in operating together and looking to the future is because we see the challenges that we face on the oceans, on the sea lanes and the importance of keeping those open."
The top American Navy official was recently in India, where he said discussions with his counterparts were comprehensive, touching upon future operations, exercises and exchanges.
"I remain very impressed with the Indian Navy", he said.
There was a highly personal element to the Admiral's visit to India - he wanted to track down the house he lived in as a youngster in Mumbai.
"I went to visit my house and I found it. It was wonderful to go back," he said.
Admiral Roughead recalled that his former house is no longer in the remote area of Mumbai as it once was. "Mumbai has expanded so much. There is so much energy," he noted.
The Commander of the Pacific Fleet was all praise for the fashion in which the Malabar exercises were going and said that this series of exercises will not only continue but prospects for its advancement will also be considered.
For example this year the Admiral pointed out India and the United States will be doing some expeditionary warfare training, which takes on additional significance because the United States is transferring one of its amphibious ships to India - the USS Trenton.
The USS Trenton, the Admiral explained, will give enable the Indian Navy to move troops and equipment to great distances and remain offshore for long periods of time. It will also make moving smaller boats in and out possible.
The transfer is expected to take place sometime this December.
"Apart from Malabar exercises, we are also looking at exercises at a more short term notice which I think navies that are as capable as the Indian and the American can do. In fact we did that with aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan at short notice," he said.
© 2025