India, Japan holding bilateral maritime exercise

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – The seventh edition of the bilateral maritime exercise between Japan and India is underway in India, according to the Indian Navy.

The Indian Navy is hosting the exercise off the southern Visakhapatnam city, a navy spokesman said in a statement late Wednesday. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force units and Indian naval ships are participating in the exercise.

The Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) 2023 marks the 11th anniversary of the joint drill since its start in 2012.

The statement added JIMEX 23 would also witness the participation of the Indian Navy ship, Delhi, the country’s first indigenously built guided missile destroyer ship.

The guided-missile destroyer JS Samidare and its integral helicopters will represent the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force units, said the Indian Navy.

The exercise, which started on Wednesday, will end on Monday.

“Having grown in scope and complexity over the years, JIMEX 23 provides an opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices and facilitates operational interactions between Indian Navy and Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force to foster mutual cooperation and reaffirm their shared commitment towards maritime security in the region,” said Indian Navy.

Japan and India conducted their first-ever joint air drill in January for 11 days.

In April, Japan participated as an observer when New Delhi and Washington conducted a joint military air exercise in India.

Japan is part of the US-led Quad, which includes Australia and India, and is a loose security alliance widely aimed at containing China’s expanding economic and security influence in the wider Asia-Pacific region.