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Indian Naval Exercise

 

Maritime Partnership Exercise between Ships of Indian Navy and JMSDF

 

Context:

  • Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt undertook Maritime Partnership Exercise with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force(JMSDF) Ships Uraga and Hirado in the Bay of Bengal on 13 Jan 22.
  • Both JMSDF ships are part of Minesweeper Division One and are on deployment to Indian Ocean Region with Captain Noguchi Yasushi, Commander Minesweeper Division One embarked onboard JS Uraga.
  • The exercise was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, promoting defense cooperation, enhancing mutual understanding and inter-operability between the two navies and sharing best practices.
  • The Maritime Partnership Exercise included a wide range of maritime operations viz. Flying Operations, Replenishment Approaches and Tactical Manoeuvres. The entire exercise was planned and conducted in a non-contact mode, thereby adhering to COVID  safety norms.

 

India-Japan Relations

Today, India and Japan share a global vision of peace, stability and shared prosperity, based on sustainable development. Shared democratic values and commitment to human rights, pluralism, open society, and the rule of law underpin the global partnership between the two countries.

 

Significance:
  • Indo-Pacific region has become more important in the current global circumstances, and reaffirmed similarities in their vision.
  • A free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region must be premised on diversified and resilient supply chains; and in this context, welcomed the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative between India, Japan, Australia and other like-minded countries.
  • The similarities in their respective Indo-Pacific visions, that are based on rule of law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Japanese side agreed to be the lead partner in the connectivity pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) and jointly take both countries’ respective visions for the Indo-Pacific forward

 

Geo-strategic significance of Indian Ocean:
  • Huge resources: The Indo-Asia-Pacific region is the greatest maritime-littoral space that has the largest concentration of population, resources, developing economies, congested sea lanes, and contested territorial spaces.
  • Choke points: The Indian Ocean is home to many choke points, such as the Straits of Hormuz, Straits of Malacca, Lombok and the Sunda Straits. Any disruption in traffic flow through these points can have disastrous consequences.

Source: THE HINDU.