''This is not an allied relationship. This is a relationship of equals, and that we're looking together to see how we can work together. And we don't really have any need or see any purpose in having, necessarily, a document that codifies this,'' he said.

''We really are still emerging in this defence relationship. To some extent it has only started in 2005. We are building slowly, gradually, but I think in clearly a positive direction to build closer ties and do more together.

And that's really the measure of the relationship,'' he added.