The Indian Navy will participate in the France-led war game ‘La Perouse’ for the first time. Next month, the Indian Navy will participate in a French naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal. Other Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) member countries participating include Australia, Japan, and the United States of America (USA).
Until now, India had not been asked to participate in the French naval exercise. Following the Malabar Exercise in November last year, which brought together the navies of India, the United States, and Japan, with Australia as a new addition, India’s inclusion in the France-led joint naval drill is a substantial step forward.
“The exercise is scheduled for April 5 and 7,” an official said.
This will be followed by another significant naval exercise, dubbed ‘Varuna,’ which is held annually between India and France. This time, the United Arab Emirates will be included (UAE). The event will take place in the Western Indian Ocean in the last week of April, according to the official.
The marine diplomacy of India
India’s maritime diplomacy includes naval exercises with several friendly nations, with China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean area in mind. More navies participating in such exercises is also a response to Chinese violence in international waters and its growing foray into the region. In December 2020, the Indian and Vietnamese navies conducted a passage exercise in the South China Sea as part of their maritime cooperation.
Soon after the Malabar Exercise, the Indian Navy conducted war games in the Andaman Sea with the navies of Singapore and Thailand. The Indian Navy conducted joint exclusive economic zone surveillance with the Maldives, Seychelles, and Mauritius, as well as coordinated patrols (CORPATs) with Bangladesh, Thailand, and Indonesia, as part of the Indian government’s “Neighborhood First” vision.
So far this year, the Indian Navy has taken part in 13 bilateral and multilateral exercises.
The joint drills aim to build mutual trust, establish standard procedures, and improve overall maritime security, in addition to improving interoperability between friendly navies.