Quad navies finish second phase of Malabar in Arabian Sea
FORUM Staff
Navies from Australia, India, Japan and the United States completed the second phase of the Malabar maritime exercises November 17-20, 2020, in the North Arabian Sea. The nations, known collectively as the Quad, held the first phase of the exercise in the Bay of Bengal from November 3-6.
“Malabar is an important opportunity to demonstrate the strength of our strategic partnerships in a high-end exercise,” said Rear Adm. Jim Kirk, commander, U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group 11, according to U.S. 7th Fleet. “The Nimitz Strike Group team is grateful to join our Australian, Indian and Japanese partners and increase our readiness and interoperability.”
The annual exercise, held since 1992, advances planning, integration and employment of advanced warfare tactics among participating nations. This year’s iteration featured the Royal Australian Navy for the first time since 2007, according to The Associated Press. (Pictured: Ships from the Royal Australian Navy, Indian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and U.S. Navy participate in Malabar 2020 in the North Arabian Sea in November 2020.)
“Our changing maritime and security environment underscores the need to work with our close partners to advance our collective interests in a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” said Cmdr. Antony Pisani, commanding officer, HMAS Ballarat, according to U.S. 7th Fleet. “Ballarat’s participation in Exercise Malabar demonstrates Australia’s enduring commitment to contribute to the security, stability and prosperity of the region.”
The second phase of Malabar included night operations, replenishment at sea approaches and gunnery exercises, according to U.S. 7th Fleet. Sailors also conducted cross-deck flying operations and advanced air defense exercises carried out by the Indian Navy’s Vikramaditya’s MiG 29K fighters and the USS Nimitz’s F-18 fighters and E-2C Hawkeye, according to Naval-technology.com.
“Malabar 2020 is the latest in a continuing series of exercises that has grown in scope and complexity over the years to address the variety of shared threats to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific where the U.S. Navy has patrolled for more than 70 years promoting regional peace and security,” according to U.S. 7th Fleet.
