India is doing naval exercises with the USA to give a message to China?

Posted on 22nd Jul 2020 by rohit kumar

Can Indian and US Navy joint military exercises in the Indian Ocean have any message for China? Especially in such an atmosphere when there is tension between India and China in the Galvan Valley of Ladakh.

The exercise was conducted near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where the 'Eastern Fleet' of the Indian Navy is already deployed.

 

Indian Navy spokesperson says that this exercise was a part of 'Passage Exercise' which the Navy keeps on doing from time to time with the navies of other countries. The spokesman says that the 'USS Nimitz' fleet of American warships was passing through the Indian Ocean and during this time the navies of the two countries did this exercise together. '

 

He says that in the past, the Indian Navy has done similar exercises with the navies of Japan and France. Strategic affairs experts say that this area of ​​the Indian Ocean is very important because it is also the way of trade and many powerful countries such as the United States send their warships to the South China Sea by this route. In such a situation, Andaman and Nicobar islands are strategically important for them.

 

Indian Ocean's importance

In a statement issued by the US Navy's Seventh Fleet, Rear Admiral Jim Kirk was quoted as saying that "this exercise has helped a lot in improving training in addition to air safety."

 

It was also said in the statement that the exercise will increase the capacity of the armies of both countries so that the danger coming from the sea route or piracy and terrorism can be fought together.

 

The Indian Navy says that later this year, the Indian Navy, along with the Australian, American, and Japanese navy, will conduct exercises in the Bay of West Bengal.

 

Strategic affairs expert Sushant Sarin has said in a conversation with the BBC that 'If such a practice had been done earlier, the voices of opposition would have started to resonate in India itself. But after what China has done in Galvan Valley, people have welcomed such practice.

 

He says, "There is no doubt that India and the United States have grown closer in terms of strategic matters. India has also entered into several strategic agreements with the United States under which India is also acquiring technology to combat submarines from America." "

 

The Indian Ocean is important for every country. In particular, the way China is trying to assert its authority over the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean is very important for the warships of America and other powerful countries to go there.

 

What does India want to tell?

Sarin says that 'China is also increasing its pressure on the South China Sea. A few days ago, the Indian Navy challenged Chinese warships with Indonesia, after which it was forced to return.

 

Strategic affairs experts say that 'India is not part of any faction at present', that is, India is maintaining its non-alignment. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar also said that 'India is not part of any alliance'.

 

However, after the situation arising with China, India has started focusing on strengthening strategic relations with other countries even more than before. This exercise is being seen in the same way as the US Navy.

 

But defense expert Rahul Bedi feels that 'by doing such an exercise, India wants to tell China that it is not alone and America is also standing with it'.

Rahul Bedi says that from 1991-92, America and India have been jointly practicing military exercises.

 

By the way, during the Kargil war, America stood with India.

 

But Bedi believes that nothing more will be gained from this exercise because the 'main center of concern for India is the Line of Control where China is increasing its military power'.

 

Rahul Bedi says, "The Chinese Navy is also very strong and has also developed several long-range missiles to destroy warships." However, India has increased its naval presence in the Indian Ocean.

 

Nimitz warship fleet

It is the largest warship fleet in the US, including the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile ship - the USS Princeton, and the missile-destroying warships USS Sterrett and USS Ralph Johnson.

 

It is also known as 'Super Carrier' because it is the largest battleship in the world. This warship equipped with nuclear power was commissioned in the US Navy in the year 1975. It was named after Chester Nimitz, the third fleet admiral commander of the US Navy, who played an important role in World War II.

 

Initially, Nimitz's stop was in Norfolk but now its stop is officially on the naval base of Kitsap.

 

But in April, people of this warship also came under the grip of Coronavirus, due to which it was kept in quarantine for 27 days. Then earlier this month Nimitz was again posted to the South China Sea.

 

The warship will be scrapped in 2022 when a more modern 'Gerald R. Ford Class' warship USS John F. Kennedy will replace it. But it has not been decided yet.