India and Australia took part in maritime exercises off the coast of Perth on the Australian West Coast. The exercise is named The Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX).
India’s INS Sumedha which is a Saryu Class offshore patrol vessel and Australia’s HMAS Anzac, the leading vessel of the Anzac class of frigates took part in these drills.
INS Sumedha is part of Indian Nay’s Eastern Fleet based in Vishakhapatnam and functions under the Navy’s Eastern Command.
INS Sumedha reached Perth on 15th August on India’s 76th Independence Day. To commemorate the spirit of “Azaadi ka Amritmahotsav” a flag hoisting ceremony was held on board the Indian vessel in presence of sailors, officers and veterans from the Royal Australian Navy.
As a part of Indian Navies Operational Deployment, the vessel was deployed in the south-eastern Indian Ocean and she became a part Indian Navy’s initiative of hoisting the Indian Flag on all continents (except Antarctica).
The MPX is to bolster interoperability between both navies and build a strong relationship. Both navies participated in inter-deck landings of helicopters, tactical manoeuvres and a farewell stream past.
The visit of the Navy’s vessel comes under India’s SAGAR initiative (Security And Growth for All in the Region). Both the Indian and the Australian Navy have a shared threat of the Chinese expansionism in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and this exercise ensures cooperation and interoperability to tackle a shared threat.
The exercise aims to reiterate India and Australia’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
