United State’s Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said that the military relationship between India and United States is the closest it has been ever and added that the two countries are exercising together by air, land and sea for the first time.

He noted that the two democracies have done a strategic and technological handshake.

Carter said, “America's regional partnerships are growing in number and strength. The US-India military relationship is the closest it's ever been. Great nation, large democracy.”

“Through our strategic handshake with America's reaching west in our re-balance and India reaching east in what Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi calls his Act East Policy, our two nations are exercising together by air, land, and sea,” he added.

“There is also a technological handshake between the United States and India. The US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative grasps hands with Prime Minister Modi's Make in India campaign, helping our countries move toward more diverse defense co-development and co-production of weapons systems,” Carter further said.

He said that the Asa-Pacific is the most important and consequential region for America’s future. The US is managing the ‘historic change’ in the area.

By Prajakt K.