With increased awareness that strategic and security interests are converging given the geopolitical situation, India and Australia have agreed to hold their first ever bilateral naval exercise in this year and are planning to make the joint war game a regular feature in coming years.
India, Japan and Australia have decided to deepen their ties in all sectors, especially in the field of maritime security, defence sources said.
Sources say that plans for a trilateral exercise including Japan is also on the list. If all three nations – India, Japan and Australia agree to it, it will strengthen the ties in all sectors, especially in the field of maritime security and defence cooperation.
According to a report by PTI, The trio had held their first-ever high-level trilateral dialogue in Delhi last week which was attended by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, Japanese vice foreign minister Akitaka Saiki and Australian secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Varghese.
A whole range of issues were discussed including, maritime security, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea but the trilateral maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, was on top of the agenda.
“The three countries have agreed to deepen their defence ties with each other. Discussion on a possible trilateral naval exercise was held but no decision has been taken,” sources said.
Meanwhile, the new Indian High Commissioner to Australia Navdeep Suri said that the two sides were also holding regular dialogues in defence and security sector which would intensify in coming months.
He pointed out the visit of two Indian Navy Ships (INS) Satpura and Kamorta to Perth early this month.
The arrival of the two Indian Navy Ships also coincided with a visit by Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Commander Vice Admiral Satish Soni, who was in Perth to hold discussions and make preparations ahead of the Royal Australian Navy's first bilateral maritime exercise with India.
The exercise will be held in September in the Eastern Fleet exercise areas off the east coast of India.
