Visakhapatnam: In pursuance of India’s policy to embrace the east and a demonstration of its commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, Indian Naval ships Satpura and Kadmatt arrived in Sasebo, Japan, on Thursday and would be there till October 15. The visit of these ships is part the Indian government’s initiatives to strengthen the long-standing, mutually supportive and strong relationship between Japan and India. This historic relationship encompasses a wide area of engagement between the two countries including cultural, spiritual, economic and security.
The visiting Indian ships will engage with the JMSDF informal calls as also in professional, social and sporting interactions. After completion of the harbour phase, the ships will take part in Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Murusame Class destroyer, JS Kirisame. Since the first ‘Navy to Navy Staff Talks’ between the two nations in November 2008, naval ties have reached new heights with bilateral and multilateral exercises and enhanced cooperation in information sharing, meteorology and oceanography, disaster management and military training.
The defence and security interaction between both countries has since expanded to encompass a Defence Policy Dialogue and a Maritime Affairs Dialogue.
Regular bilateral and multilateral maritime exercises have been the foundation for strong naval relations.
erstwhile Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) led to Japan participating in the ‘MALABAR’ exercise (a tripartite naval exercise involving India, the US and Japan) since 2014. JMSDF ships Izumo and Sazanami participated in the recently concluded edition of Ex-MALABAR off Chennai. Both navies have participated in each other’s International Fleet Reviews (IFR) by deputing ships and high level delegations. While INS Sahyadri participated in the IFR at Yokosuka in October 2015, JS Matsuyuki participated in the IFR at Visakhapatnam in February 2016.
This exchange has expanded to sporting interaction in the form of JMSDF participation in the annual international Admiral’s Cup Regatta at the Indian Naval Academy for the first time in 2016. India looks forward to continued participation from the JMSDF and an invitation has been extended for the 2017 edition as well. The two navies look forward to enhanced cooperation in the fields of military technology, white shipping, training, intelligence sharing, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and exchange of subject matter experts in various fields. With relations between both countries at an all-time high and more avenues under consideration, the future looks promising with safer sea lanes and highly modernised navies helping in fulfilling each other’s obligations.
