India and Japan will begin three-day maritime drills in the northern Arabian Sea starting Saturday, a spokesman for the Indian Navy said on Friday, days after India conducted an exercise with Australia in the Indian Ocean.
The India-Japan Bilateral Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) is held every two years. Its last edition was held off the coast of Visakhapatnam in October 2018.
“JIMEX-20 will exhibit a high degree of interoperability and joint operational skills by conducting a multitude of advanced exercises, across the spectrum of maritime operations. The multifaceted tactical exercises that involve gunfire, crossed helicopter operations, and complex surface, anti-submarine and air warfare drills will consolidate the coordination developed by the two navies, ”the navy said in a statement.
The drills come after the navies of India and Australia conducted a passage exercise in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region (IOR) from September 23-24. Typically, a passage exercise is conducted whenever the opportunity arises, in contrast to previously planned maritime exercises.
Like the Indo-Australian drills, JIMEX-20 is being conducted in a “contactless format only at sea”, in view of Covid-19 restrictions.
The Indian warships Chennai, Teg, Tarkash and the fleet tanker Deepak will represent the Indian Navy at JIMEX-20, while the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force will send its warships Kaga and Ikazuchi for the drills, according to the statement, adding that the long-range P8-I. Maritime patrol aircraft, integral helicopters and combat aircraft will also participate in the exercise.
“JIMEX-20 will further enhance cooperation and mutual trust between the two navies and strengthen the long-standing friendly bond between the two countries,” he added.
The stage is also set for Australia to be part of the next Naval Malabar exercise conducted by India with the United States and Japan. The next edition of Malabar, already delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, will be held at the end of the year.
China has also mistrusted the Quadrilateral or Quad security dialogue that was revived in late 2017 by India, the US, Australia and Japan, and these suspicions have increased since the four countries elevated the forum to ministerial level last year. .
The navy has been on operational alert in the Indian Ocean, where dozens of warships are ready for any task after the border row with China in the Ladakh sector. India has placed warships along critical communications sea lanes and choke points under its mission-based deployment and the ships could be diverted for any mission.
Indian warships are deployed from the Persian Gulf to the Straits of Malacca and the northern Bay of Bengal to the southeast coast of Africa.
.
