Indo-Pacific military Exercise Malabar begins in Australia for the first time

Bureau Report

1 year ago

Today Australia welcomes key partners India, Japan and the United States to Sydney as it prepares to host Exercise Malabar for the first time.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP said in a statement:

“It is an honour to host Exercise Malabar for the first time here in Australia. Amid the current strategic circumstances, it is more important than ever we partner with our neighbours, and deepen our defence partnerships. Cooperation, shared understanding and knowledge coupled with training contributes to shared security and prosperity for our region.”

Image: The ship’s company of HMAS Brisbane observe the harbour entry of Exercise Malabar 2023 into Sydney, NSW (Source: Royal Australian Navy / Photographer: LSIS Matthew Lyall)

Exercise Malabar is an important Indo-Pacific military exercise that seeks to deepen interoperability between participating regional partners.

Video: India’s Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, AVSM, NM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command spoke to Pallavi Jain about the Malabar exercise which has come to Australia for the first time.

Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, observed:

“The Royal Australian Navy is honoured the Indian Navy has provided us the opportunity to host Exercise Malabar; reinforcing the trust and strength of our Navy to Navy relationship. This esteemed exercise provides rich opportunities for our people to work and train together, to be prepared as high-functioning teams ready to face the complex challenges of the maritime domain.”

Image: (L-R) Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, AVSM, NM, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, USN, Commander in Chief, Japan Maritme Self Defense Force, Vice Admiral Akira Saito and Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Chris Smith, AM, CSM, RAN at the Exercise Malabar news conference, HMAS Kuttabul, NSW (Source: Royal Australian Navy / Photographer: LSIS David Cox)

He added:

“Exercise Malabar is an investment in Australia’s Navy to Navy relationships, as well as the relationship between the four Navies involved. In this way we complement diplomatic efforts to deepen our regional ties and contribute to a region based on trust and respect.”

Royal Australian Navy Ships HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Choules are participating in the exercise, with Navy MH60R helicopters and Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II, Hawk 127 and P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

Video: Rear Admiral Christopher Smith, AM, CSM, RAN, Commander Australian Fleet spoke with Pallavi Jain about the importance of Malabar exercise coming to Australia for the first time.

They will join partner nations in high-end training including air defence and anti-submarine exercises, aviation, communications and replenishment at sea between ships.

File photo Malabar Exercise 2020 (Image: @SpokespersonMoD on X)

This year marks the 27^th iteration of the Malabar series and will be held in Sydney and across Australia’s east from 10 to 21 August.

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