Malabar (naval exercise)

[8] Exercises have included aircraft carriers (USS Nimitz, Kitty Hawk, Ronald Reagan, George Washington, INS Vikramaditya, Viraat), helicopter carriers (JS Kaga, Izumo, Ise, Hyūga), frigates, submarines (diesel-electric and nuclear), destroyers, guided-missile vessels, cruisers, amphibious ships and auxiliary ships such as tankers.

[17][18] The exercises were located along the Malabar Coast in Cochin, headquarters of the Indian Southern Naval Command, and Goa.

[19] The United States renewed military contact following the 2001 September 11 attacks when India joined President George W Bush's campaign against international terrorism.

In 2007, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, an initiative between Japan, United States, Australia and India impacted the Malabar exercise.

[9] In 2007, for the first time, navies other than Indian and US joined the exercise with the armada including Japan, Singapore and Australia.

[9] India's Left Front parties that have criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government on the India-US civilian nuclear deal had vehemently protested the exercise, seeing it as another sign of the growing closeness between the two countries.

[21][23] China, which did not officially comment on the exercise, was known to be unhappy over the event as it was being conducted in the Bay of Bengal for the first time.

In June, China had issued a 'demarche' to India, United States, Japan and Australia seeking details about their four-nation meeting, termed a Quadrilateral Initiative.

India and Australia had quickly assured Beijing that security and defence issues did not form part of the meeting's agenda.

[46] India invited Japan to be a part of exercise, held in the Bay of Bengal.

[3] As the number of maritime bilateral exercises over the years has been increasing, the Navy's resources are heavily strained.

[50] Based on news reports, India refused Australia participation in the exercise to avoid posturing it as a military group against China.

[59][60] It was decided that Australia shall also be a part of the Malabar Naval exercise, in view to support a free, open and rule based Indo Pacific.

[63] US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E Biegun, on 20 October 2020, said that Quad should be "more regularised", and at some point "formalised" with the passage of time.

[65] Since the revival of the Quad in November 2017, much against the pushing by the Americans, India had resisted the incorporation of a 'willing' Australia into Malabar exercises.

Ships from the Royal Australian Navy , Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force , Indian Navy and the United States Navy participate in Malabar 2020.
A pair of Indian Air Force Jaguars flying in formation beside a pair of Indian Navy Sea Harriers and a pair of U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets , flying over INS Viraat during Malabar 2007.
Ships assigned to the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and the Indian aircraft carrier INS Viraat in formation as part of Malabar 2005.
Indian soldiers assigned to the 9th Battalion of the Sikh Infantry take notes during small arms training aboard USS Boxer during Malabar 2006.
Maritime forces from India, Japan and the U.S. during Malabar 2009
Sailors from USS Blue Ridge and embarked 7th Fleet staff cleaning up White Beach in Okinawa , Japan as part of the community service project, Malabar 2009.
Sailors assigned to the USS Bunker Hill work with Indian locals to clean a lake during a community relations project in support of Malabar 2012.
INS Shakti replenishing USS Carl Vinson during Malabar 2012.
An Indian Naval officer observes operations in the combat information center aboard USS Bunker Hill in support of Malabar 2012.
An E-2C Hawkeye aircraft assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125 lands on USS Carl Vinson during Malabar 2012.
Ships of the United States , India and Japan in the Bay of Bengal during exercise Malabar 2017.
American, Indian, and Japanese ships participating in Malabar 2019.
An Indian Navy MIG-29K Fulcrum aircraft flies over USS Nimitz .
Australian MH 60R takeoff from USS John S. McCain , Malabar 2020.
INS Khanderi (S51) steams in formation while participating in Malabar 2020 in the north Arabian Sea.
INS Vikramaditya (R 33) steams in formation while participating in Malabar 2020 in the north Arabian Sea.
Map showing Malabar Coast