Context
Bilateral maritime exercise JIMEX-18 between India and Japan was held in Visakhapatnam.
About
- The nine-day event is aimed at enhancing inter-operability, improving understanding and imbibing the best practices of each other.
- From Japanese side, Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) with Ships Kaga, an Izumo Class Helicopter Destroyer and Inazuma – a Guided Missile Destroyer is taking part.
- The IN was represented by three indigenously designed and built warships and a Fleet Tanker.
- JIMEX-18 comprised of harbour phase and sea phase.
- The Harbour Phase of the exercise will include professional and social interactions between ship’s crews, sports fixtures and operational planning for the Sea Phase.
- The Sea Phase would include Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercises, VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seizure) Drills, Gun Firings, Cross Deck Helo Operations and coordinated operations in Anti-Submarine/ Anti-Air threat scenarios.
- The last edition of JIMEX was conducted in Dec 2013 off Chennai.
- Indo-Japanese Navies also participated in the recently concluded MALABAR 18 in the Pacific Ocean and biennial multilateral exercise RIMPAC-18 off Hawaii, USA.
- In addition, the ships of the two navies have been working in close coordination in Anti-Piracy Operations in the Gulf of Aden for the past few years.
Significance
The conduct of JIMEX-18 after five years is indicative of an upswing in the Indo-Japanese defense relations and the continued efforts of both Governments to work closely to enhance safety and security of the global commons in keeping with ‘rule based order’.
