NEW DELHI:  The Indian and the US air forces will significantly step up operational cooperation to complement the strategic interests of the two countries in the Indo-Pacific region, Chief of US Air Force General David L Goldfein has said, while expressing concern over China’s rising military influence over the area.
Calling India a “central strategic partner” of the US in pursuing common interests in the region, he said two of the world’s largest air forces were going to jointly shift the focus on the Indo-Pacific region while asserting that the rules-based order must be preserved in the critical sea lanes.
Mr Goldfein, who held extensive talks with Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and the top brass of the defense set-up during his three-day India visit that ended yesterday, said the “Quadrilateral” coalition among the US, India, Japan and Australia would provide for deeper cooperation between the Indian and American air forces. Asked if cooperation between the two forces would deepen in the wake of the four countries joining hands, he replied, “I do (think so) and that is a big part of my visit and in my discussions here”. (Agencies)