Demonstrating Commitment to a Rules-Based Maritime Order
NEW DELHI:
India, alongside eight other nations, is participating in a significant naval exercise hosted by France, encompassing the strategic Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok straits. This initiative underscores a collective commitment to maintaining a rules-based international order in maritime regions, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
India has deployed its guided-missile destroyer INS Mumbai for the ‘La Perouse’ exercise, which features the French carrier strike group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle. “The exercise aims to enhance maritime situational awareness, strengthen cooperation in surveillance and interdiction, and advance air operations,” said Navy spokesperson Captain Vivek Madhwal.
The nine-nation naval exercise focuses on maritime safety, interoperability, and collective response to maritime crises
The exercise involves advanced multi-domain operations, including surface and anti-air warfare, air defense, tactical maneuvers, and constabulary missions like VBSS (visit, board, search, and seizure). Participating warships include the USS Savannah (US), HMAS Hobart (Australia), HMCS Ottawa (Canada), FFG Lekir and Gagah Samudera (Malaysia), HMS Spey (UK), and RSN Independence (Singapore). Indonesia provides base support for the French CSG’s Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft.
A statement from the French embassy highlighted the strategic significance of the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok straits as global trade arteries, while addressing threats like accidents, illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and environmental hazards. The exercise emphasizes maritime safety, interoperability, and collective action in crises, including the interception of vessels involved in illicit activities.
***********************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken a small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, running a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will make a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com