MALABAR 2024: Indian Navy Chief, Japan SDF Chief Meet To Improve Relations

The meeting was part of Exercise ‘MALABAR 2024,’ a military exercise in which India, Japan, the United States, and Australia collaborated to promote Indo-Pacific stability.

During their meeting, General Yoshida and Admiral Tripathi discussed ways to improve existing defense cooperation, investigate technological collaboration, and identify new opportunities to strengthen bilateral relations.

The Indian Navy shared photos from the meeting, stating, “Gen Yoshihide Yoshida, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Japan Self Defence Force, on a visit to India for Exercise #MALABAR2024, interacted with Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, #CNS on #10Oct 24, #NewDelhi.”

“Discussions progressed on existing defence cooperation avenues, technological collaboration and new opportunities to strengthen bilateral ties towards a Free and Open #IndoPacific,” according to the article.

On Wednesday, naval forces from Australia, Japan, and the United States joined India for the start of the field training exercise “Malabar 2024” in Vishakhapatnam.

This year marks the 28th edition of the Malabar exercise, which began in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between the US and India. The exercise has grown in scope and complexity, now involving Japan and Australia.

This is the fifth time all four nations have met in Malabar to advance collective planning, integration, and application of advanced warfare tactics among participating nations.

Australian, Indian, Japanese, and US maritime forces routinely collaborate across the Indo-Pacific to support regional security and stability. India leads this year’s exercise.

The Malabar planning and exercise lead rotates annually among participating nations, as does the exercise location, in order to demonstrate the combined ability to exercise across the entire Western Pacific and Indian Ocean region.