By S. Habib

India's relations with the United States were just beginning to grow after the dissolution of former Soviet Union when Malabar series of exercises began in 1992, as a bilateral exercises between India and US navies and gained further prominence with joining of the navies of Australia and Japan. In the initial years, other member countries were not too keen on the inclusion of Australia in these exercises.  However, all four countries had also come together as a part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) then onward, Australian, Indian, Japanese, and U.S. maritime forces routinely operated together in the Indo-Pacific, nurturing an obliging approach toward regional security and stability.

The four Quad members have played a major role in purposefully redefining the "Asia-Pacific" as the "Indo-Pacific", to deepen trans-regional ties between the Indian and Pacific Ocean areas, and to, in their words, deal more effectively with the rise of China. 

As United States identifies China as its main strategic competitor so she has  increased diplomatic, economic, and defense engagement with India alongwith powers like Australia and Japan to balance China therefore, the region may be heading towards steeper competition.

The Exercise Malabar planning and conduct lead rotates each year among participating nations, along with the exercise location to demonstrate the combined ability to exercise across the entire Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

The 26th edition of the multinational maritime exercise  near Yokosuka in-between 8 and 15 November, 2022.  This was the third time that all four nations had participated in Malabar to advance the collective planning, integration and employment of advanced warfare tactics between participating nations. Japan leaded the exercise this year.

The sea phase witnessed live weapon firings, surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills and tactical procedures.  Object of the sea phase was the conduct of War at Sea exercise which enabled all four navies to consolidate interoperability and sharpen their tactical skills.  The high-tempo exercise saw the participation of eleven surface ships including a nuclear powered aircraft carrier with its integral air elements, along with four long-range maritime patrol aircraft, integral helicopters and two submarines. The exercise also involved exchange of ‘Sea Riders’ between various participating ships.

Indian Navy surface units participated including a Shivalik-class FFG, Kamorta-ClassCorvette, a P-8I aircraft, and Marine Commandos (MARCOS) personnel. The high-tempo exercise saw the participation of eleven surface ships including a nuclear powered aircraft carrier with its integral air elements, alongwith four long-range maritime patrol aircraft, integral helicopters and two submarines. The exercise also involved exchange of 'Sea Riders' between various participating ships. One of Malabar 2022’s major highlights was the execution of a ‘War at Sea’ exercise, which allowed the QUAD navies to strengthen interoperability and hone tactical abilities.

U.S. Navy forces participating include the embarked staffs of CSG 5, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 along with the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), and guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69).

Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) surface units participated including JS Hyuga (DDH 181), JS Shiranui (DD 120),JS Takanami (DD 115), JS Oumi (AOE 426) along with a P-1 aircraft.

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) also participanted including His Majesty’s Australian Ships Arunta (FFH 151) and Stalwart (A304) and Submarine Farncomb along with a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A maritime patrol aircraft.

In addition to operational exercises, bilateral logistics and support agreements were also validated between the participating countries during this edition of the Malabar exercise.

Significance of the Malabar naval exercises is first, of course, to check rise of China and second is that to work together against China as all the four countries have different issues with of China. The theme of making this platform for the four countries is to work out mechanisms on how to challenge China on the high seas. Though the Quadrilateral initiative was to improve relationships with New Delhi and other threes to gave the impression of "encircling" China”. For example, India felt unaided herself in clashes with China at Galwan in the Himalayas while Japan is also now increasingly feeling the need to be strengthened at the states Andaman & Nicobar as well as Lakhswadeep. Amphibious Warfare exercise involving defending islands as well as capturing/re-capturing exercises could help both the countries. It is also noteworthy here that the Chinese Navy is the largest in the world now in terms of fleet strength. In addition, it is rapidly increasing the number of aircraft carriers at its disposal, even while creating a string of artificial islands in the South China Sea.  

Following the Malabar exercises, members of the Quad also discussed to convert the security arrangement into an "Asian NATO" with "shared security and geopolitical goals". China marked it as "a bulwark against the rise of China", and a Chinese diplomat protested the concept as an attempt to "wind back the clock of history’. The foreign secretary of Sri Lanka also raised concerns in October 2020 about the militarization of the Quad in the Indian Ocean.  In 2021, China described the Quad as “a military alliance aimed against China’s resurgence.” Beijing has concluded that the Quad represents one of the most consequential challenges to China in the years ahead.

China and Russia are regularly conducting joint naval war games as of their bilateral military relations. India thinks China as enemy but on the other hand partner of Russia.  In another case, India thinks Pakistan as enemy but Pakistan also enjoys good relationship with America.  Geography of India is very critical and dangerous. Therefore, it is voiced insight India that India always got over excited and called every country as friend even in official statement. So India should not take side of any group else, it will be a disaster for India and then for whole world so India should become neutral and non-aligned for world peace. Rather than becoming a superpower, and trying to compete with China in war, India should have to work to finish hanger from the country as per Global Hunger Index depicts, India stands at number 107 while China with legendry number of only 4.  Remember availability of life necessities in India is bitter when 1.4 billion Indians were begging for oxygen only. Also comparison between India and China can also be made in GDP per capita, growth rate and living standards as well. So before indulging herself in war games, India should pay attention to her local and domestic issues for the prosperity of her people. International community should also work for humanity and peace rather than mounting conflicts and conducting war games in south Asia.