On Monday, India and the three other members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)—the United States (US), Australia, and Japan—joined France in kicking off a major naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal, indicating their growing strategic cooperation in the region. This is the first such military drill between France and all Quad nations and comes just a few weeks after the inaugural Quad Leaders’ Summit on March 12.
The multilateral exercise, called ‘La Perouse,’ will feature eight ships from the five participating nations and is expected to last three days. The Indian Navy said that its ships (INS Satpura and INS Kiltan), along with P8-I long-range maritime patrol aircraft, would take part in the war games. France has deployed its amphibious assault warship Tonnerre and frigate Surcouf for the drill, whereas the US has sent its amphibious transport dock ship Somerset. Meanwhile, Australia is represented by frigate Anzac and tanker Sirius, and Japan deployed destroyer Akebono.
According to the Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal, the exercise “will witness complex and advanced naval operations, including surface warfare, anti-air warfare and air defence operations, as well as weapon firings, cross-deck flying, tactical manoeuvres and seamanship evolutions such as replenishment at sea.” He also added that the drills would “showcase high levels of synergy, coordination, and interoperability between the five friendly navies.”
The French-led La Perouse was first held in 2019, with vessels from the US, Japan, and Australia. Madhwal noted that India’s participation in the drill this year “demonstrates the shared values with friendly navies ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.”
India has been increasing naval cooperation with like-minded nations (such as the Quad and France) in recent years, amid growing Chinese belligerence in the region. It took part in the Malabar exercises with the naval forces of the US, Japan, and Australia last year, and carried out a two-day drill in the eastern Indian Ocean with the US on March 28-29. India and France are also expected to hold a large-scale Varuna exercise in the western Arabian Sea in the coming weeks, which will include a French aircraft carrier battle group.
Quad Nations and France Begin Naval Exercise in the Bay of Bengal
This is the first such military drill between France and all Quad nations and comes just a few weeks after the inaugural Quad Leaders’ Summit on March 12.
April 6, 2021
SOURCE: AFP/INDIAN NAVY via JAKARTA POST