Malabar Exercise

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Context

• The Malabar series of naval exercises is set to commence off the eastern coast of Australia.

Malabar Exercise

About

• Exercise Malabar is a naval exercise involving the United States, Japan and India as permanent partners.

Inclusions

• The annual Malabar exercises includes diverse activities, ranging from fighter combat operations from aircraft carriers through maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare, diving salvage operations, amphibious operations, counter-piracy operations, cross–deck helicopter landings and anti–air warfare operations.

Execution

• Over the years, the exercise has been conducted in the Philippine Sea, off the coast of Japan, the Persian Gulf, in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. It is taken care by the Asian and the North American Commands.

Commencement

• The exercise started in 1992 along the Malabar Coast as a bilateral exercise between India and the United States.

Expansion

• It was expanded in 2007 with the participation of Japan, Singapore and Australia. Japan became a permanent partner in 2015.

Aim

• The aim of the exercise includes increasing interoperability between the naval forces.
• The exercise is also designed to deepen the partnership for the Indo-Pacific, for shared aspiration, for a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific.

2023 Edition

• The focus of the maneuvers planned this year includes air defence, sea operations and detecting under-sea threats with stress on interoperability.
• The Indian Navy is sending destroyer INS Kolkata and multi-role stealth frigate INS Sahyadri, while the US and Japan are sending a warship each. The maritime forces of the US, India and Australia shall be fielding Boeing P8I maritime surveillance aircraft also.

Significance

• The four countries have been favouring a 'free and open Indo-Pacific'.
• The exercises highlight the convergence of views among the participating countries on maritime issues and their shared commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.

Malabar exercise: Evolution

• Malabar exercise which represents one of the most complex naval activities that the four nations do together is also the capstone exercise that builds on a number of the bilateral exercises that the countries do with each other around the world.
• China has been suspicious about the purpose of the Malabar exercise as it feels that the aim is to contain its influence in the Indo-Pacific region, but this exercise is not directed at any country and hence isn’t a China exercise per se since it is not a military or the defence arm of the Quad.
• Notably, the Indo Pacific region has been subject to significantly enhanced strategic competition. And all partners of this exercise are determined to see greater strategic equilibrium and their purpose is to make sure that there is some concrete action beyond the words and talks.
• Even as Beijing alleges that the Quad is aimed at it, the grouping has maintained that it is not intended ‘against China’.
• Quad is not a military grouping adding it is now engaged in working together to help countries to deal with humanitarian situations in natural disasters.
• The Malabar series of maritime exercises, has evolved in complexity over the years and serves as a demonstration of the participating countries' commitment to regional security and cooperation.

https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/australia-to-host-latest-edition-of-10-day-malabar-exercise-for-first-time20230807155414/#:~:text=The%20Malabar%20series%20of%20exercises,of%20the%20Australian%20Navy%20also