“I believe that our National security lies not just in protecting our borders but also in bridging divides.” – Joe Lieberman (US Senator)
Recently we have seen a lot of Military exercises taking place and the true explanation as to why these are being conducted on large scales lie in the words of Brig Mandip Singh “In the domain of international relations, military diplomacy has, in recent years, emerged as a major tool to further diplomatic interests of nations. It is an indication of the highest level of trust and a key confidence building measure.
While on the operational side, these enable militaries to understand each other’s drills and procedures and facilitate familiarisation with equipment capabilities. This is useful in the event of joint operations either in war or in operations other than war like humanitarian aid, disaster relief, anti-piracy, etc when nations come together for a common cause.
The most important advantage of joint military exercises is ‘Strategic signalling’. A joint exercise with one or more nations serves the purpose of signalling to a third country of the influence we have in the region.
And lastly alongwith goodwill, it is a tool for projection of a nation’s soft power – culture, language, customs, beliefs, food habits and lifestyle.’’
The Indian Navy has been regularly conducting exercises and inviting other countries and also going to other countries to participate in the same. PM Modi explicitly mentioned about SAGAR -Security And Growth for All in the Region and the Indian Navy under it, has been involved in assisting countries in the Indian Ocean Region with EEZ Surveillance, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, and other capacity building and capability-enhancement activities, on their request and these exercises are major part of it.
Naval Exercises have been taking place all through the year; even in ‘Non-contact at sea only’ format in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic. Recently conducted Naval Exercises include (2020-21) :-
- Multilateral Maritime Exercise La Pérouse (France + QUAD Nations) in Eastern Indian Ocean region from 5 to 7 April 2021:- INS Satpura and INS Kiltan alongwith P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft participated for the first time in La Pérouse exercise. French Navy’s Mistral-class LHD Tonnerre and La Fayette-class frigate Surcouf participated. The US Navy’s San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship Somerset was seen in the exercise. Her Majesty’s Australian Ships (HMAS) Anzac, a frigate and tanker Sirius were deployed by the Royal Australian Navy while Japan Maritime Self Defence Ship (JMSDF) was represented by the destroyer Akebono.
Picture Credit :- https://www.thejakartapost.com/ - Annual Military Exercise SIMBEX 2020 (Singapore and India) in Andaman Sea from 23 to 25 November 2020 :– The 2020 edition of SIMBEX witnessed participation by Indian Navy ships including destroyer Rana with integral Chetak helicopter and indigenously built corvettes Kamorta and Karmuk. In addition, Indian Navy submarine Sindhuraj and P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft participated in the exercise. RSN was represented by the ‘Formidable’ Class frigates ‘Intrepid’ and ‘Steadfast’ with integral S70B helicopter and ‘Endurance’ Class Landing Ship Tank ‘Endeavour’ in the exercise.
Picture Credit:- Twitter
- Trilateral Maritime Exercise SITMEX-20 (Singapore, India and Thailand) in Andaman Sea from 21 to 22 November 2020 :- Indian Navy Ships including indigenously built ASW corvette Kamorta and missile corvette Karmuk participated in the 2nd edition of SITMEX-20. The exercise is conducted regularly to enhance mutual inter-operability and imbibing best practices between the three Navies. The 2020 edition was hosted by Singapore Navy. Further the exercise aims to strengthen mutual confidence and develop common understanding and procedures towards enhancing the overall maritime security in the region.
Picture Credit:- http://ibgnews.com/ - India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) in Andaman Sea close to Strait of Malacca from 18 to 20 November 2020 :- Indian Naval Ship (INS) Karmuk, an indigenously built Missile Corvette and His Majesty’s Thailand Ship (HTMS) Kraburi, a Chao Phraya Class Frigate along with Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both the navies participated in the CORPAT. CORPAT has helped in building up understanding and interoperability between navies and facilitates institution of measures to prevent and suppress Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy in the region.
- Malabar Maritime Exercise amongst QUAD nations in Visakhapatnam from 3 to 6 November and the Arabian Sea from 17-20 November 2020 :- Phase 1 of the exercise involving participation by Indian Navy (IN), United States Navy (USN), Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN), was conducted off Visakhapatnam in Bay of Bengal. The second phase was conducted in the Arabian Sea. It was reflective of the commitment of the participating countries to support a free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific as well as a rules-based international order.
Picture Credit :- https://www.financialexpress.com/
- Bilateral Maritime exercise SLINEX-20 (Sri Lanka and India) in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka from 19 to 21 October 2020 :- This was the Eighth Edition of SLINEX. The Sri Lanka Navy was represented by SLN Ships Sayura (Offshore Patrol Vessel) and Gajabahu (Training Ship) while Indian Navy was represented by indigenously built ASW corvettes Kamorta and Kiltan. In addition, Indian Navy Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Chetak helicopter embarked onboard IN ships, and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft also participated.
- Maritime Bilateral Maritime exercise JIMEX (Japan and India) in North Arabian Sea from 26 to 28 September 2020:- It is conducted biennially between the Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. JIMEX series of exercises commenced in January 2012 with special focus on maritime security cooperation. The last edition of JIMEX was conducted in October 2018 in Visakhapatnam, India.
Picture Credit:- https://www.republicworld.com/
- Bilateral Naval exercise Naseem-Al- Bahr (India and Oman) in Goa in January 2020:- Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) ships RNOV Al Rasikh and RNOV Khassab were joined by IN Ships Beas and Subhadra in the 12th edition of the Naval Exercise. Naseem-Al-Bahr (or Sea Breeze) is a biennial naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the RNO, being conducted since 1993.
Picture Credit :- https://www.aviation-defence-universe.com/
Alongwith these exercises, Indian Navy also took part in exhibitions held at UAE in the month of February 2021.
NAVDEX 21 (Naval Defence Exhibition) and IDEX 21 (International Defence Exhibition) in UAE from 20 to 25 February 2021:- INS Pralaya participated in NAVDEX 21 and IDEX 21, one of the leading international naval and defence exhibitions of the region. It was aimed at showcasing the strengths of India’s indigenous ship building, in line with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’. It also showed close ties between India and UAE. 
Picture Credit :- https://www.navyrecognition.com/
Joint military exercises are essential for the cooperation between countries apart from economic cooperation in the prevailing hard situation. Hence we understand why these exercises are conducted regularly and the reason why Men in White never sleep.
‘No matter what happens, the Indian Navy won’t be found resting. They are the heroes guarding us when we sleep in peace.’
Jai Hind!
–Falguni Sisodia
References :-
1) https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/operations/11
3) https://www.joinindiannavy.gov.in/
4) https://idsa.in/askanexpert/internationalmilitaryexercises