A four-star US commander has said that there is need to build long-term strategic ties with India, which allows the latter to have a deeper role in the security environment of the Asia Pacific region.
Improving the defence ties with India is an important aspect of Asia-Pacific rebalance, Adm Samuel J Locklear, the US Pacific Command Commander, said at the Surface Navy Association's annual convention here on Wednesday.
Locklear said the goal is to build a long-term strategic relationship that allows India to have a deeper role in the security environment of the region - particularly the maritime security environment in the Indian Ocean.
"My particular field of play each day is from Hollywood to Bollywood... As far north as you need to go and as far south as you want to go," Locklear said referring the vast jurisdiction of the Pacific Command.
Referring to the rise of China, he said this has been known for long term.
"We've all known this for a long time. Questions remain about how China will contribute to the security of the region," he said, hoping that China will eventually be a net provider of security and not a net user of security.
