USA, India, Japan and Australia Joint Naval Exercise

A naval exercise on the Malabar coast is very likely in the coming month. The exercise would include the navies of India, the US, Australia, and Japan. The four may be sending their naval forces and their warships to the Malabar next month. The four countries are referred to as the quad. Australia had also mentioned about its deep ties and it talked about the deep trust between the four vast nations. This exercises comes amid the ongoing stiff between India and China on the Ladakh border along with many issues between China and its neighbours in the South China sea.

In a very significant move which comes amid a big-time Indo-China border standoff. India on the previous Monday had announced Australia’s participation in the upcoming Malabar exercise. This will be along with the US and Japan. Hence it will be the first military-level engagement between the four-member nation grouping.

The invitation sent by India to the Australian naval forces, for the exercise came only two weeks after the Foreign Ministers of the Quad held extensive talks in Tokyo. They held this with a focus on enhancing their cooperation. Especially in the Indo-Pacific region. This area has been witnessing increasing Chinese military assertiveness. A naval exercise between the four big players can help keep a check.