The United States has a very close defence relationship with India, the Pentagon has said as it dismissed questions about the latest multinational military exercises involving Russia, India and China.
"India's a sovereign nation, they can make their own decisions in terms of who they're going to conduct exercises with," Pentagon Spokesman Brig Gen Patrick Ryder told reporters at his news conference on Tuesday.
"Certainly, we have appreciated our partnership with India in the region. They're an important partner, as you know. And we'll continue to work closely with them," he said responding to a question on India participating in a war game with Russia and China.
"They have participated in games -- war games with Russia and China, which seems a little bit troubling to some people," he was asked.
"We have a very close partnership and relationship -- defence relationship with India. We obviously will continue to work with India and further develop that relationship," Ryder said.
The Vostok military exercise from September 1 to 7 is taking place at different locations in Russia's Far East amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the exercises number of countries, including India and China, are participating.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Unnamed Airline Had Narrow 'Miss' With UFO Near New York, Pentagon Report Reveals Donald Trump's Team Making List Of Pentagon Officers To Fire: Report Trump's Administration To Give Boost To "Incredibly Important" US-India Ties Russia Launches ICBM At Ukraine In Stern Message To Kyiv, Western Allies In AAP's First List For Delhi Polls, 6 Of 11 Candidates Are Defectors Ex-Teacher In US Sentenced To 30 Years For Having Sex With Student Worms In Mid-Day Meal Make 30 Students Fall Ill At Telangana School Health Benefits Of Ghee With Warm Water Heart Patients Should Follow These Measures During The Air Pollution Crisis Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.