U.S. Wants 'Significant' Naval Ties with India to Protect Sea Lanes

However, Beaman was quick to point out that the objective was not to build a coalition of the East Asia Pacific rim nation on the lines of NATO, minus China, which was not invited to participate for reasons that the U.S. commander was at a loss to explain.

"No. I want to make sure that everyone understands the RIMPAC exercise was never designed to form a formal coalition," he said.

Noting that the RIMPAC exercise has grown in size from three participating nations in 1971 to 22 this year, Beaman said: "It's just whoever - likeminded nations trying to get training value out of working in a coalition."

"The significance for, I think, all 21 other nations for India's participation is again to build the relationships," he said pointing out that the theme for RIMPAC 2012 is "Capable, Adaptive Partners."

"We are trying to develop those partnerships," he said, so that "we know what we can bring to the table in the event of a crisis or a natural disaster, and we can rely on each other to assist.

The earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan over a year ago was one clear example of the benefits of having participated in exercises, Beaman said.