The India-US military relationship is the "closest it has been ever", said United States Defence Secretary Ashton Carter onboard the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego. The American official, on Wednesday, spoke of "sharpening America's military edge" in Asia and the Pacific region, according to an AP report. Analysts say the statements are an assurance of support to American allies in view of China's claims over the South China Sea.

Carter said Indian and American forces have been collaborating through air, land and sea exercises for the first time. He said, "America's regional partnerships are growing in number and strength." The American official referred to the strategic and technological "handshake" that India and America share, which he said would help take diverse defence co-development and co-production of weapons systems forward.

He said, "Beijing sometimes appears to want to pick and choose which principles it wants to benefit from and which it prefers to try to undercut. For example, the universal right to freedom of navigation that allows China's ships and aircraft to transit safely and peacefully is the same right that Beijing criticises other countries for exercising in the region."

His statements precede his meeting with leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Hawaii. The US is not a member of the association, which focuses on trade cooperation, but uses it to develop strategic and military ties with member nations.