Indian ocean region is of strategic importance to the US: Rear Admiral William D Byrne

Rear Admiral William D Byrne Jr. Commander, Carrier Strike Group 11, at the opening of the joint naval exercise between US, India and Japan - Malabar 2017 said, "The strategic message we want to send to China is the same that we want to convey to Canada, Republic of Korea or Australia or any other seafaring nation in the world. That operations at sea together is a good thing. We are better together and know ourselves and eliminate the risk of miscalculation at sea. That is the strategic message we want to send the entire world. Indian Ocean region is of strategic importance to the US." 

Admiral Bisht HCS, Officer-Commanding in Chief, Eastern Naval Command, said that too much shouldn't be read into this exercise. "The Malabar 2017 is to ensure interoperability between the participating nations, exchange best practices and strengthen military and defence ties between nations," he said. 

During thé Malabar 2017 exercise, 16 ships, more than 95 aircrafts and 2 submarines from the three participating nations will have on shore and at sea exercises together till 17 July.