The Indian Defence Ministry announced on Sunday that the warship INS Trikand is participating in the US-led International Maritime Exercise/Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-23), which is the largest-ever naval drill in the Middle East.
According to the US Defence Department, over 50 countries and organisations are participating in the exercise, which kicked off on 26 February and will end next week.
India’s Participation
The ministry noted that even though the 2023 exercise is India’s maiden IMX participation, it is the second time New Delhi has sent a warship to participate in a Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) exercise. In November 2022, INS Trikand participated in the CMF-led ‘Operation Sea Sword 2’ in the Arabian Sea.
📸: Sailors assigned to U.S. 5th Fleet's Task Force 56 operate a patrol boat in the Gulf of Aqaba, March 3, during International Maritime Exercise 2023. #IMX23 is the largest naval exercise in the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/VB8qE2NhTb
— U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) March 5, 2023
CMF is a 34-nation multinational force, which exists to “uphold the Rules-Based International Order (RBIO) by countering illicit non-state actors on the high seas” and protect international waters.
Participation in exercises like Sea Sword 2 and IMX/CE-23 enables the Indian Navy “in strengthening relationships and enhancing interoperability and collective maritime capability with maritime partners,” the ministry noted.
International Maritime Exercise 2023
According to the US military, the IMX began its operation phase on 2 March at the US’ 5th Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain. The exercise is an 18-day naval training event hosted by the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). This year’s drill has been combined with the Cutlass Express drills, led by the US Naval Forces in Europe-Africa.
The exercises will witness the participation of over 7,000 personnel, 35 ships, and 30 unmanned and artificial intelligence systems from over 50 countries and international organisations.
Participating nations include India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Germany, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, South Korea, the UK, and Israel. Organisations like the EU Naval Forces, Interpol, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are also participating.