New Delhi: India announced on Monday that Australia would also join the upcoming Malabar Naval Drill. This effectively means that all members of the ‘Quad’ or four-member alliance will be involved in this grand exercise. Other countries that will join the US in the annual Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea next month’s annual maneuvers.
The Australian request for India to join Naval Drill was accepted at a time when tensions with India (China Border Dispute) in East Ladakh were increasing. The Defense Ministry said in a statement, “India wants to increase cooperation with other countries in the field of maritime security and in the backdrop of increased cooperation in the field of defense with Australia, the Australian Navy at Malabar-2020 Naval Maneuvers (Australian Navy’s participation will be seen. ”
Coordination will be stronger between navy
The statement said that the plan for the exercise has been prepared on the basis of “no contact at sea” structure. The ministry said, “This exercise will further strengthen coordination among the navies of the countries participating in it.” Although China remains skeptical about the objectives of the annual Malabar maneuvers, it feels that the maneuvers will be in the Indo-Pacific region In order to control its effect.
The Malabar exercise began in the year 1992 as a bilateral exercise in the Indian Ocean between the US and the Indian Navy. Japan became a permanent participant of this exercise in the year 2015.
Wanted to be in Australia for the last several years
Australia had been showing interest in participating in this exercise for the last several years. Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mariz Payne confirmed that his country will participate in the practice Malabar later this year.
China is skeptical about the purpose of the Malabar exercise because it feels that the annual maneuvers are an attempt by India to have an influence in the Pacific. The Malabar exercise began in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between the Indian Navy and the US Navy in the Indian Ocean. Japan became a permanent partner in the exercise in 2015.
Australian Defense Minister Linda Reynolds said, “High-military exercises such as Malabar demonstrate our collective resolve to enhance Australia’s maritime capabilities, inter-build with our close allies and support an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific Are important for. “
