the Indian Navy’s Milan Multilateral Exercise next month; 46 marines expected
India and like-minded navies are coming together to find ways to counter China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region.
The Indian Navy is preparing for the largest multilateral exercise ever in Milan, which is slated for late February 2022. More than 40 navies from around the world are due to enter Indian waters starting next month.
This time, in addition to the member countries of QUAD (Japan, United States and Australia), the member countries of AUKUS (United Kingdom, Australia and United States) will also participate in this exercise which will focus on interoperability and joining in water. “Emphasis will also be placed on the opening of sea lanes and freedom of navigation. This is important because there is no way to stop China which continues its intimidation tactics in the waters of the Indian Ocean region and provides assistance to neighboring countries, ”said a senior officer.
There are reports that China recently delivered a Type 035B Ming-class (diesel-electric) submarine to the Myanmar Navy. India also donated a submarine to Myanmar. The delivery of the submarine is negotiated a day after the visit of Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Harsh Shringla, to this country (December 24, 2021).
China had supplied Ming-class submarines to the Bangladeshi Navy.
Financial Express Online reported in 2020 that India learned of a Russian-born INS Sindhuvir Kilo-class submarine from its fleet in Myanmar. Myanmar named UMS Min Ye Thein Kha.
Recently, China has gone a long way and announced plans to supply conventional Yuan-class submarines equipped with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) as well as Type-054A stealth frigates. Reports recently indicated that Pakistan has purchased an entire fleet of Chinese fighter jets.
Countries expected in Milan:
Neighborhood and ASEAN member countries like Brunei, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Bangladesh, South Korea, Cambodia and others .
African countries: Mozambique, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Comoros, among others.
GCC countries: Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
QUAD & AUKUS member countries: Japan, United States, United Kingdom and Australia.
In addition, Russia and France will participate in this exercise.
More countries willing to participate in various exercises with India
Like-minded India and Marines unite to find ways to counter China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region, Beijing is busy flexing its muscles up to South American waters.
According to senior officials, various navies around the world have requested to participate in various formats of exercises at sea. Countries are looking for ways to stop Chinese expansion, which has led to a significant increase in naval exercises and interactions. operational with the navies of the region.
What does it mean?
“This means that there might be plans to expand certain exercise formats like the Malabar exercise. It is one of the most complex naval exercises India conducts with any country, ”explained the officers cited above. In addition to the exercises being exercised, there could be more naval exercises in the trilateral format, as well as larger formats. “Greater engagement with like-minded navies is needed to ensure freedom of navigation in the waters. “
The United States, Japan, Australia and India come together every year for the Malabar naval exercises.
Financial Express Online reported in October 2021, during Exercise Malabar, that the QUAD Marines had focused on exchanging notes on how to uphold the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific as the Chinese aggression continues to expand in the region and freedom of navigation.
As of 2021, the Indian Navy had carried out exercises with countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia in the Indo-Pacific and South China Sea region.
As previously reported, in an effort to improve its Maritime Domain Knowledge (MDA), over the years India has signed maritime transport agreements as well as logistics support agreements with several countries. These agreements help to strengthen security and further contribute to the maritime sector as well as to operational recovery.
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