Counter-piracy operations
Last Saturday in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the 16th annual “Malabar” exercise started, as part of ongoing cooperation between U.S. and Indian military forces. These 10 days joint exercises will consist of both ashore and at-sea trainings, including seminars on air defence, carrier aviation operations, integrated anti-submarine warfare operations and counter-piracy operations, ending on April 16th.
The U.S. naval budget has undergone cuts and the resizing of the naval fleet since 2006 has led to significant reductions in ships number, despite news of future increases.
India recently increased military expenditure with the purchase of two Russian-built nuclear submarines and plans to further strengthen anti submarines capabilities. China’s increased military and naval capabilities explain India’s attractiveness as a partner for the U.S. in the region.
Source: Neptune Maritime Security
