About MALABAR-21 Exercise
Exercise MALABAR-21 is a quadrilateral naval exercise involving the United States, Japan, Australia, and India as permanent partners. Navies of India, the USA, Australia, and Japan from 26 August 2021 will conduct the Malabar naval exercises. This maritime exercise will be conducted from the island of Guam, which is located 2500 km east of the Philippines. This quadrilateral naval annual exercise will be for 4 days.
Aim of Quadrilateral Naval Exercise
It will be conducted with an aim to enhance inter-operability, benefit from best practices, and develop a common understanding of the responses required for maritime security operations. According to Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal, Indian stealth frigate "INS Shivalik" and submarine destroyer frigate "INS Kadmat" reached the US-controlled Guam island in the western Pacific to participate in the exercise.
How many countries participated?
The MALABAR-21 Exercise is an annual naval exercise between the navies of India, Japan, Australia, and the United States. It is held alternately in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
Malabar Exercise (1992 to 2021)
The MALABAR-21 Exercise was started in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between India and the US. In 2015, it was expanded to a tripartite format by including Japan. In November 2020, Australia also agreed to join the exercise at India's request.
Role and Responsibilities
Australia, India, Japan, and the US are members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, better known as the Quad—a grouping of four Indo-Pacific democracies founded in 2007 whose main mission is to ensure a Free and Open Indo-Pacific primarily through the maintenance of the rules-based international order.
The MALABAR-21 Exercise is held annually with the aim of supporting a free and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. It is also committed to a rules-based international order. It seeks to achieve interoperability with an emphasis on honorable aid, anti-submarine warfare, artillery training, surface warfare maneuvers, counter-terrorism operations, and aerial surveillance.