New Delhi: With the Indo-US joint air exercises at the Kalaikunda air force base draws to a close, acting US Ambassador in India, Robert O Blake spoke about the need for closer ties between the two countries.
Blake said the US's interest in India wasn?t new found and that the two countries had identical interests on a range of issues.
"We've been interested in developing congenial India for a long time and believe that it can be an important partner of the United States. We share converging interests on a whole range of transnational issues, which include combating terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and drug- trafficking," Blake said.
Earlier, the contingent of 250 American military officers was welcomed with 'red flags' as they landed in Kolkata on Friday.
CPI-M leaders ?who had staged a protest in front of the Kalaikunda airport on November 5 and November 7 ? said the Indo-US agreement on military co-operation would compromise the country's sovereignty.
The agreement is against the independent foreign policy, which the Government of India has announced in the Common Minimum Programme, they added.
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