US - Indonesia Military Drill

• 10 Sep 2022

Why in News?

Recently, the United States and Indonesian militaries had conducted annual joint combat exercises on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island.

• For the first time, participants from other partner nations have also joined amid growing maritime activity by China in the Indo-Pacific region.

What do we need to know about the Joint Military Drill?

• More than 5,000 soldiers from the U.S., Indonesia, Australia, Japan and Singapore participated in this 2022’s exercises.
• The exercises were designed to strengthen interoperability, capability, trust and cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
• The exercises lasted till 14^th August 2022, encompassing army, navy, air force and marine drills.

Which are India’s Exercises with US & Indonesia?

• US:
  • Exercise Yudh Abhyas: It is the largest running joint military training and defence cooperation endeavor between India and the US.
  • Exercise Tiger Triumph (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise): It aims to develop interoperability for conducting HADR operations.
  • Exercise Vajra Prahar (Special Forces’ Exercise): The joint exercise by the Special Forces of both the countries is conducted alternatively between India and the United States.
• Indonesia:
  • Exercise Samudra Shakti (Maritime): In pursuance of India’s Act East Policy, Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ was conceived in 2018 as a bilateral IN-IDN exercise.
    • The exercise aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship, and enhance mutual understanding and interoperability in maritime operations between the two navies.
  • IND-INDO CORPAT (Maritime Exercise): India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol build up understanding and interoperability between navies and facilitate institution of measures to prevent and suppress Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q. Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): (2017)

1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The ‘Indian Ocean Naval Symposium’ (IONS) is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral States of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• It provides a forum to increase maritime security cooperation, and promote friendly relationships among the member nations.
• The inaugural IONS-2008 was held in New Delhi, India in Feburary, 2008. The Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy was designated as the Chairman of IONS for the period 2008-10. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Source: PIB