ASEAN - INDIA MARITIME EXERCISE - DEFENCE AND SECURITY
News: Inaugural
ASEAN-India maritime exercise in South China Sea from May 2-8
What's in the news?
● In
a further step, in the expanding India-ASEAN (Association of SouthEast Asian
Nations) military cooperation, the maiden ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME)
is set to begin on May 2 with war games in the South China Sea.
Key takeaways:
● Navy
Chief Adm. R. Hari Kumar is in Singapore for the exercise as well as to take
part in the International Maritime
Defence Exhibition (IMDEX-23) and International Maritime Security Conference
(IMSC) being hosted by Singapore.
ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME):
● The
first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise
(AIME) is set to commence on May 2, 2023, with war games to be held in the
South China Sea.
● INS Satpura and INS Delhi
will participate in the exercise.
Features:
● The
exercise is divided into two phases:
‘Harbour Phase’ and ‘Sea Phase.’
● The
exercise is aimed at fostering close cooperation and conducting seamless
operations in the maritime domain between the Indian Navy and ASEAN navies.
● The Republic of Singapore
Navy (RSN) and the Indian Navy (IN) are co-hosting the ASEAN-India Maritime
Exercise.
● With
AIME-2023 India becomes the 4th ASEAN dialogue partner, after Russia, China and
the US to hold the ASEAN+1 maritime exercise.
Go back to basics:
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN):
● It
is a political and economic organization.
● Founded
in 1967 by the five South-East Asian nations of Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Aim:
● Promoting
economic growth and regional stability among its members.
Members:
● Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam.
ASEAN Plus Three:
● It
is a forum that functions as a coordinator of co-operation between the ASEAN
and the three East Asian nations of China,
South Korea, and Japan.
ASEAN Plus Six:
● The
group includes ASEAN Plus Three as well
as India, Australia, and New Zealand.
International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX-23):
● The
inaugural edition of the naval and maritime defence event IMDEX was held in
1997 and has since been expanding year on year.
● There
are about 50 delegations this year.
● Hosted
by the Singapore Navy.
International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC):
● Established
in 2009, the IMSC is co-organised by Singapore
Navy and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).
● The
conference brings together navy chiefs, coast guard director-generals, policy
makers, strategic thinkers and maritime stakeholders to exchange ideas and
discuss ways to enhance and foster mutual security in our maritime commons.