India is set to host a major naval exercise involving the Quad nations, a strategic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. The annual Malabar 2024 exercise will take place from October 8th to 18th in Visakhapatnam, a key naval base on India’s eastern coast. This year’s exercise is poised to be the most comprehensive yet, with a focus on enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
The exercise, which includes both harbor and sea phases, will feature a wide range of Indian naval platforms, including guided missile destroyers, multi-purpose frigates, submarines, fighter aircraft, and helicopters. The Indian Navy has stated that complex operational scenarios will be undertaken during the drill, highlighting the strategic importance of the exercise.
The Malabar 2024 exercise comes just weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the other Quad leaders at the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, hosted by US President Joe Biden. The summit, the fourth in-person meeting of the leaders, further solidified the strategic partnership between the four nations and underscored their commitment to regional security and stability.
The Malabar exercise serves as a demonstration of the Quad’s growing military cooperation and its dedication to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. It also showcases the increasing role of India in the region’s strategic balance.
