India's naval exercise with US warships in the Bay of Bengal

India has completed the 'PASEX' naval exercise with US warships in the Bay of Bengal before the naval exercise in Malabar. The Indian Navy participated in a naval exercise with the US warship USS Nimitz in the Bay of Bengal near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Diplomats consider this naval exercise with the US warship as a strategic message to China in the tense situation of border tension in East Ladakh.

China has always tried to establish its dominance in the South China Sea. The United States alleges that while maintaining its dominance in the South China Sea, China is infringing on the sovereignty of several countries. The United States has deployed four of its warships in the South China Sea under the pretext of peacekeeping after the trade conflict, which Beijing has not seen well.

The USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan nuclear warships have been deployed in the South China Sea. This time, on the way back to West Asia through the Bay of Bengal, it participated in the 'PASEX' naval exercise with the Indian Navy. Lieutenant Commander Sean Brophy said such passing exercises between the navies of the two countries enhance mutual understanding.

The India-Japan-US is going to participate in the Malabar annual naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal later this year. It is also known that Australia may be invited for training in Malabar. This annual naval exercise in Malabar or the Malabar Exercise was previously a bilateral naval exercise between India and the United States. Later Japan also joined this exercise. In 2017, India, Japan and the United States held a trilateral naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal. The name of this naval exercise was 'Malabar 2017.' Not only in the Indian Ocean but also in the Bay of Bengal, China's naval activity is noticeable.

India has long been in turmoil over China's hegemony in the Pacific region. The movement of Chinese anti-missile warships in the Indian Ocean was observed before the Galwan border conflict. Australian High Commissioner Barry O'Farrell recently appointed to India said that Beijing is preparing for naval terrorism.

Earlier this year, several Chinese vessels were seen roaming near the exclusive economic zone and territorial waters in the Indian Ocean. Beijing claims that the ships were brought down to suppress piracy.