Two Indian Navy Ships (INS) Shivalik and Kadmatt on Saturday reached Guam, an Island Territory of the USA, to participate in the annual Exercise Malabar-21 exercise. The Quad countries—India, the US, Australia and Japan—will conduct the 25th edition of the Malabar naval exercise from August 26 to 29 off the coast of Guam. The aim of the exercise is to increase interoperability amongst the participating navies, develop a common understanding and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for maritime security operations and for the navies to operate as a team to meet the challenges in the maritime domain.
“The Malabar-21 would witness high-tempo exercises among destroyers, frigates, corvettes, submarines, helicopters and long-range maritime patrol aircraft of the participating navies,” Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said. “Complex surface, sub-surface and air operations including live weapon firing drills, anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills, and joint manoeuvres and tactical exercises will be conducted during the exercise,” he added.
The naval exercise will also provide an opportunity for like-minded navies to derive mutual benefit from each other’s experiences. “The inter-operability achieved over the years as a result of such exercises has proved to be operationally beneficial towards providing a conducive atmosphere for stability and economic prosperity in the region,” the Navy said.
“INS Shivalik & Kadmatt arrived at Guam, an Island Territory of the USA on 21st August as part of their ongoing deployment to nations in South East Asia and the Pacific Ocean. The 2 ships are scheduled to participate in the annual Exercise MALABAR-21 between the navies of Australia, India, Japan and USA,” tweeted Indian Navy.
The Malabar series of exercises, which began as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India and the US in 1992, has seen increasing scope and complexity over the years. Following India’s invitation, Australia participated in the Malabar exercise last year that effectively made it a drill by all four member nations of the Quad. “Initiated in the year 1992, the Malabar had traditionally been held between the Indian and US navies. The IN-US bilateral exercise initially prospered into a trilateral exercise with the participation of Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), and further grew in stature with Australia joining the group in 2020,” said a Navy official.
According to the Defence Ministry, these maritime initiatives enhance synergy and coordination between the Indian Navy and friendly countries, based on common maritime interests and commitment towards Freedom of Navigation at sea. “The deployment of the Indian Navy ships seeks to underscore the operational reach, peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly countries towards ensuring good order in the maritime domain and to strengthen existing bonds between India and countries of the Indo Pacific,” read the release by the ministry. The Indian Navy undertakes regular deployments to friendly foreign countries and Indian and the Pacific Ocean regions in furtherance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative of “Security and Growth for All in the Region—SAGAR”. Further, such engagements build “Bridges of Friendship” and strengthen international cooperation.
There have been mounting global concerns over China’s growing military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea as its sovereign territory, turning numerous obscure reefs and sandbars throughout the waterway into man-made artificial islands heavily fortified with missiles, runways and weapons systems.
(WITH AGENCY INPUTS)