Ever since US President, George W. Bush's March 2006 visit to India, both New Delhi and Washington are looking to intensify cooperation in the Indian Ocean. Putting the proposed Indo-US Maritime Cooperation Frame Work (MCF) on the fast track, US Pacific Fleet commander, Admiral Gary Roughead, visited India recently to discuss the final modalities with the navy and South Block. His visit is one of three high-level visits to Delhi by senior US military officials in May. It reflects the determination in both capitals to enhance the pace of ongoing maritime cooperation to serve mutual interests.

Interestingly, 'maritime cooperation' was high on the agenda during Bush's visit, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to existing multilateral efforts. The visit paved way for a faster progress towards conclusion of the proposed MCF for enhancing security cooperation against threats in the Indian Ocean. The MCF principally provides for joint maritime operations, including joint-patrolling of energy trade routes such as the Straits of Malacca, anti-piracy and other transnational crimes at sea, search and rescue, anti-pollution, rescue, and relief operations during natural disasters. This is a serious attempt to acquire stable and structured relationships in the Indian Ocean.

Convergence of common strategic interests continues to draw countries. Shared interests include securing vital sea lanes, fighting terrorism and finally, creating a stable Asia. Although Indo-US maritime cooperation intensified after the 9/11 attacks, the genesis of this cooperation could be traced to the end of Cold War. In early 1990s, the loss of Soviet Union as an important ally, Russia's voluntary withdrawal from the Indian Ocean and fresh naval competition arising out of a new unipolar power structure compelled India to redirect its military strategy towards great powers. Then on, New Delhi adopted the policy of 'cooperation', supplanting its existing policy of 'containment'. India no longer sees the US as a threat, but as a partner in naval cooperation. For the US too, India is a valuable choice as a regional power with the largest navy in the Indian Ocean region and the capacity to maintain strategic balance in the region. Joint exercises began with the first Malabar series exercise conducted in July 1992 off the western coast. Since then it has been expanded to other sub-regions of the Indian Ocean.

Two major disasters of this decade, the 9/11 attacks on US and the tsunami tragedy of December 2004 provided a significant opportunity to both sides. The new convergence of interests with Washington on the war against terror helped India give up its traditional policy of resistance and engage in military cooperation with the US. The visit of the US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson to Mumbai port in December 2001, a surprise move by the US, was the first cue about the new dawn in Indo-US cooperation, and in the process washed away the bitter memories of the legendary USS Enterprise's belligerent entry into the Bay of Bengal during the 1971 war. Post-9/11, Washington's request to India for escorting its naval vessels in Malacca Straits marked the beginning of a new chapter in Indo-US strategic engagement. The joint operations off Malacca Straits were also Washington's endorsement of India's strategic imprint stretching beyond South Asia to neighbouring Southeast Asia. In this respect, the Indian Navy stands out as a stabilising force through its partnership with US and other navies to secure this region. Washington's decision to form a four-nation coalition group with India, Australia and Japan for relief operations in tsunami-affected countries was another feather in Indo-US naval cooperation in the Indian Ocean. Such cooperation was unthinkable in Cold War period.

Growing Chinese naval presence in the region is another factor that fuels Indo-US naval engagement. The Bush administration - apprehensive about China's naval expansion and its 'string of pearls strategy' - perceives Chinese postures as a compounding threat to the balance of power structure in Indian Ocean. New Delhi is also cautious about China's expansions and has been trying to win Washington's support for strengthening its position in the region and sustain the existing balance. In this backdrop, Indo-US naval cooperation seems to be a part of broader common geopolitical strategy to create strategically stable in Asia.

Presently, India treats US presence in the Indian Ocean as a dependable factor of stability and also values the need to augment this cooperation so as to emerge as a major player in Asia. Besides, naval cooperation both complements and reinforces India's 'Look East Policy', making it easier to build security cooperation links with other powers in the region.