‘Quad’ countries kick off Malabar exercise with China on their radar screens | India News
India has deployed multi-purpose stealth frigate INS Shivalik, anti-submarine corvette INS Kamorta and long-range maritime patrol aircraft P-8I in 10 days. Malabar exercises will see “advanced coordinated anti-submarine warfare” among other complex combat maneuvers.
The US sent the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, the guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville and the Aegis guided-missile destroyer USS Milius. Australia joined the Anzac-class destroyer Arunta and the oil tanker Stalwart, respectively, while Japan had the helicopter carriers Hyuga, the destroyers Takanami and Shiranui, and the oil tanker Oumi.
The multilateral exercise Malabar 2022 b/w navies of India, Japan, USA and Australia kicked off with the opening ceremony held… https://t.co/Pml7B6w7gY
– ANI (@ANI) 166779937000
The annual Malabar exercise, which began as a bilateral effort between India and the US in 1992, now features Japan and Australia on a regular basis.
China, which has the world’s largest navy with 355 warships and submarines, previously protested to Malabar on the ground that the exercise was part of an effort by an axis of democracies to “ restrain ” it in the area.
For their part, the ‘Quad’ countries have repeatedly stated their intention to prevent any ‘coercion’ in the Indo-Pacific. “Four nations together support a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, and are committed to a rules-based international order,” said one officer. said.
The opening ceremony of the exercise was attended by the Commander of the East India Fleet, Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Commander-in-Chief of the Japan Self-Defense Fleet, Vice Admiral Yuasa Hideki, Commander of the US 7th Fleet, Vice Admiral Karl Thomas and Commander of the Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley.