By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI
NEW DELHI — As part of its policy to strengthen defense ties with countries in the Asia Pacific Region, India plans to improve relations with Australia and Thailand.
Visiting Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony and his Australian counterpart, Stephen Smith, agreed during talks in Canberra on Wednesday to step up military exchanges and naval combat exercises.
“The Defense Ministers of Australia and India agreed to continue to have regular bilateral Defence Ministers’ Meetings, to promote exchanges between the Defence establishments and the Armed Forces of both sides,” says an Indian Ministry of Defence statement.
Without specifying concern over Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea, a joint statement issued at the end of the talks in Canberra said, “maritime security and freedom of navigation in accordance with principles of international law is critical for the growth and prosperity of the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.”
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