INDIA, INDONESIA HOLD JOINT PATROL EXERCISE

INDIA, INDONESIA HOLD JOINT PATROL EXERCISE

Aiming to foster closer maritime ties with countries located on the rim of the Indian Ocean, India is conducting joint co-ordinated patrol exercise with Indonesia in the Andaman Sea. The 17-day long exercise focus on keeping the vital sea lanes in the Indian Ocean region safe for trade and meet challenge by maritime terrorism and piracy. The exercise will end on October 27.

India took the lead in forming a group of countries in the Indian Ocean and formed Indian Ocean Naval Symposium(IONS) a decade back. The group now has more than 30 countries and meets annually in pre designated country to review security situation in the region besides laying down the calendar for joint exercises.

The ongoing exercise with Indonesia is part of India’s efforts to forge more robust maritime relations with countries in the Indian Ocean region, officials said here on Thursday. They said INS Karmuk, an indigenously built missile corvette, based under the Andaman and Nicobar Command, along with a Dornier maritime patrol aircraft, is participating in the 28th India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol and Second Bilateral Maritime Exercise, Navy officials said here on Thursday.

Defence relations between India and Indonesia have been growing steadily with regular joint activities and interactions between the armed forces of the two countries. The two navies have been carrying out Coordinated Patrols (CORPAT) on respective sides of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) twice a year since 2002, with the aim of keeping this vital part of the Indian Ocean Region safe and secure for commercial shipping, International trade and legitimate marine activities. The CORPAT has strengthened understanding and interoperability between the two navies and promoted net maritime security in the region.

The bilateral cooperation has increased significantly with the scheduling of the Second Bilateral Maritime Exercise along with the 28th edition of the CORPAT. The opening ceremony at Belawan, Indonesia from October  10 to 13 was attended by Commodore Girish Kumar Garg, the naval component commander of the Tri Service Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) based at Port Blair. The Bilateral Maritime Exercise and the CORPAT would see participation by one warship and one Maritime Patrol Aircraft from each Navy.

These interactions would also provide opportunities for extensive operational and training engagements, and contribute substantively to the maintenance of good order at sea. The Exercise seeks to strengthen the existing bonds of friendship between India and Indonesia, and underscore India's partnership and solidarity with friendly countries of the region, officials said.

(THE PIONEER)