Australia to Join in Naval Drill With U.S., India and Japan

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Royal Australian Navy warship HMAS Paramatta sails in front of the iconic Sydney Opera House on October 4, 2013 as part of celebrations to commemorate 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy's fleet first entered the city's waters. Ships from nations including China, Thailand, the United States, Malaysia, France, Japan and former colonial power Britain passed through the heads into the famous harbour where they joined 16 tall ships from around the world in preparation for a ceremonial fleet review. AFP PHOTO / Saeed Khan (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)Photographer: SAEED KHAN/AFP

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By Sudhi Ranjan Sen

October 19, 2020 at 10:55 AM EDT

Updated on

October 20, 2020 at 5:27 AM EDT

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Australia will join the annual Malabar naval exercises to be held off the Indian coast with Japan and the U.S. this year, according to statements from the South Asian country’s defense ministry and Australia’s defense minister.

The exercise will be held in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, along some of the world’s busiest trade routes, to “strengthen the coordination between the Navies,” India’s Ministry of Defence said in the statement. Earlier, the exercise was held off the cost of Japan and off the coast of Guam in the Philippine sea.