NEW DELHI, June 1 (UPI) -- India and Britain have declared that their navies will conduct more joint exercises, to include a mutual visit of warships, so to improve their defense ties.
The chief of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, Admiral Jonathan Band, said the strategic relationship between the navies of the two countries would deepen further following the decision by the two governments to increase the number of joint exercises they conduct.
India and Britain recently concluded a joint naval exercise at Bombay, which Band called a great success.
"I held discussions on strengthening and extending the cooperation between the two navies with the top brass of the Indian Navy and the discussions were a great success," Band said.
He said both navies needed to hold joint operations in the future to give more strategic depth to their relationship. Lauding the navy's modernization program, Band said such a program was increasingly necessary as India continued to emerge as a great power.
"The Indian Navy is very professional one, and the acquisition of aircraft carriers would definitely strengthen the striking capacity of the Indian Navy," Band told reporters.
The British Navy chief said British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Indian Premier Manmohan Singh both supported strengthening the relationship between the two navies.
