Japan, US, India kick off joint naval drill
July 11, 2017
CHENNAI- Japan, the United States and India kicked off a joint naval exercise at a port in Chennai, eastern India, on Monday as they aim to bolster their maritime security cooperation in an effort to counter China's expansion in the Indian Ocean.
The Malabar joint exercise suggests that what former US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter last year claimed to be "real, practical" trilateral security cooperation under former US President Barack Obama will remain intact under US President Donald Trump.
For the annual joint drill, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force sent for the first time its largest destroyer, the Izumo, capable of carrying up to 14 helicopters.
The drill also involves some 700 personnel and another destroyer, the Sazanami, from the MSDF, as well as the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.
In addition, the Indian Navy's only aircraft carrier, the INS Vikramaditya, takes part in the joint exercise for the first time.
The joint drill is set to continue at the Chennai port through Thursday and take place off the coast of eastern India from Thursday to July 17.
The exercise includes training for antiaircraft, antisurface and antisubmarine warfare using live ammunition. (Jiji Press)
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