On joint naval exercise

[Press statement issued by the politbureau of the CPI(M)]

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its serious concern about the proposed joint naval exercise comprising India, the US, Japan, Australia and Singapore in the Bay of Bengal in September. This is a step towards India being drawn into the already existing trilateral military cooperation between the US, Japan and Australia.

In the recent period, preparations have been going on for a quadrilateral framework for security cooperation involving India, United States, Japan and Australia.

Coming in the wake of the recent visit of the USS Nimitz to Chennai, the announcement of the joint naval exercise is part of the implementation of the "New Framework for Defence Relationship" signed by the UPA government in July 2005. Japan and Australia are close military allies of the United States. India is now moving to join their ranks.

This is a serious development. The UPA government has been forging a close strategic military cooperation with the Untied States without any public debate or explanation.  The CPI(M) considers these steps as harmful to India's strategic interests. The Left parties have time and again warned against such military cooperation with the United States. The Polit Bureau calls upon all patriotic sections to come out in opposition against this growing military tie-up with the United States.