Indian, American, Australian and Japanese Navies have kicked off the Malabar naval drills in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, as tensions in the Indo-Pacific region rise over China. According to officials, the drills, which span 11 days, are divided into two distinct phases: the first stage of a harbour and the second being an intense stage at sea.
The background of Malabar drills is that it started in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between India and the USA. From that point, the exercise has expanded into a multilateral format to improve cooperation between the navies of friendly countries and counteract common threats and challenges in the IOR and the wider IO region. This year’s annual exercises focus on regional cooperation and that of the participating countries in maintaining freedom of navigation.
While exercising, the various forces will display their prowess with naval platforms such as guided missile destroyers, multi-purpose frigates, submarines and fighter aircraft, as well as helicopters. Australia will provide an Anzac batch II frigate, the HMAS Stuart and the P-8 maritime patrol Aircraft, as well as an MH-60R helicopter. The US Navy is attending with SHIP USS Dewey, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, in addition to a P-8 maritime reconnaissance aircraft. For its part, Japan is to transfer the Murasame-class destroyer named JS Ariake.
These drills will include ant-submarine operations, surface operations, aerial operations, and other relevant operations relating to maritime operations, with special emphasis on improving the awareness of the allied maritime forces.
Amid such drills, China’s aggressive behaviour in the IOR has become a matter of concern for the rest of the world as it presses on with the expansion of military facilities and unlawful claims to territorial waters. In response to these guidelines, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh provided reassurance of India’s stance on promoting responsible behaviour in leveraging the commons, asserting India’s support for a rules-based order and compliance with international law, including the UN Convention.
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