(Image source from: India)
Senior military officials from India, US and Japan have met to plan joint naval exercises in the Indian Ocean in October. According to Defence sources, the two-day meet was an “initial planning conference” to sketch out the modalities required for the upcoming Malabar Naval exercises.
Indian and American Navies annually conduct naval training exercise, 'Malabar'. It also includes fighter combat operations from aircraft carriers and other manoeuvres.
In 2007, Japan took part in Malabar that was hosted by India. But the exercises were largely kept bilateral in 2007 due to the strong reaction from China against the inclusion of Australia and Japan.
Now India has invited Japan to take part in the exercises besides the US.
The kind of naval assets to be deployed during the naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal will be decided in the meeting.
"There is likely to be at least one another round of meeting on the same," the sources said PTI.
- Sumana
