MUMBAI, Dec 15: Two US warships conducted a joint exercise this week with the Indian navy as part of increasing military cooperation between the two countries, a US navy official said on Saturday.

The USS Antietam and the USS O’Kane conducted a joint exercise with the Indian navy on “broad activity from simple communication to coordinated maritime exercises,” the Antietam’s captain R.T Rushton said.

The warships are part of the USS Carl Vinson carrier battle group which took part in US-led military operations in Afghanistan.

“Our visit will enhance India-US military ties. There will be many more such visits, which is an indication of the deepening of the relations between the two nations especially after the recent summit between President George Bush and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee,” Rushton added.—AFP