ISAS Briefs

The 21st edition of the Malabar exercises are taking place in the Bay of Bengal from 7 to 17 July 2017 amidst tensions along the disputed China-India-Bhutan land border in the Himalayas, and in the context of the growing Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean in the past few months. The major highlights of the exercise are the emphasis on submarine hunting and the debut participation of India's INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier and Japan's Izumo-class helicopter carrier. As with the past editions, the Malabar exercises this year provide an opportunity for India to deepen ties and enhance its operational compatibility with those of the other maritime powers, the United States and Japan. However, this year's Malabar exercises are of particular significance, especially with regard to China.