Indian Navy Joins 5th Edition of La Perouse 25 Multinational Naval Exercise.
International
On January 16, 2025, the Indian Navy (IN), alongside eight Indo-Pacific nations, commenced participation in the 5th edition of the La Perouse 25 multinational naval exercise. The exercise, organized by the French Carrier Strike Group (CSG), spans eight days (January 16–24, 2025) and is conducted in the strategic maritime straits of Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok.
- The exercise aims to enhance collective response capabilities among navies, preparing them for real-world challenges such as protecting trade routes, preventing illicit activities, and responding to maritime crises.
- Nine nations are participating in the exercise: India, Australia, Canada, the United States of America (USA), France, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom (UK), and Singapore. The Indian Navy is represented by its destroyer, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Mumbai, while other nations have deployed advanced vessels.
- A key highlight of the exercise is the use of the Indian Ocean Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) system. Participating navies trained in using this platform for communication, coordination, and effective information exchange to manage maritime crises collaboratively.
Main Point :- (i) Training during the exercise emphasized interoperability among participating navies, including ship inspections to detect illicit activities and ensuring the protection of vital maritime trade routes from accidents, illegal activities, and natural disasters.
(ii) The exercise's location in the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok straits underlines their importance as critical maritime trade routes linking the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
(iii) The 4th edition of the La Perouse exercise was held in 2023 in the Bay of Bengal, involving seven nations, highlighting the exercise's growing scale and importance in fostering regional maritime security.
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