The upcoming 4th edition of the India – Japan Maritime bilateral exercise, JIMEX, set to occur in the North Arabian Sea from the 26th to 28th September 2020, has captured public attention. The exercise holds significance in the current geopolitical context due to the increasing military activity in the Indian Ocean Region by China, culminating with the border row with India.
Background and History of JIMEX
The inaugural JIMEX exercise kicked off in January 2012, focusing specifically on improving maritime security cooperation. This event is a biennial joint exercise conducted between the Indian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The most recent edition took place in October 2018 off the coast of Visakhapatnam, India.
Composition and Activities of JIMEX 20
This year’s edition will comprise multifaceted tactical exercises including elements of weapon firings, cross deck helicopter operations, and elaborate surface, anti-submarine and air warfare drills. This assortment of activities is aimed at solidifying the coordination developed between the two navies.
Representing the Indian Navy will be the indigenously built stealth destroyer Chennai, the Teg Class stealth frigate Tarkash, and the Fleet Tanker Deepak. In addition, the P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft will participate.
Geopolitical Significance of JIMEX 20
Taking place in a period of escalating concerns over China’s increasing military presence in the Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific, JIMEX 20 carries immense geopolitical significance. This exercise will be the first military engagement after the signing of a landmark agreement (Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement – ACSA) between the two countries which enables their militaries to access each other’s bases for logistics support.
India has significantly expanded its deployment in the Indian Ocean Region with a range of warships and submarines following the border tensions with China. The maritime space around the Malacca Strait, critical for China’s sea-based supply chain, will be closely watched.
Recent Maritime Activities
Recently, the Indian and Australian navies conducted a passage exercise in the eastern Indian Ocean Region (IOR), which is typically executed when an opportunity arises, in contrast to pre-planned maritime drills.
Additionally, in July 2020, the Indian Navy performed a military exercise with a USA Navy carrier strike group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ coast. The USS Nimitz, the world’s largest warship, is currently deployed to the Indian Ocean to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Other Military Exercises between India and Japan
Military cooperation between India and Japan encompasses more than just JIMEX. The two nations also participate in the annual joint land military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’, the Joint Air Force exercise ‘Shinyuu Maitri’, and the trilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar with the USA on a regular basis. These exercises reflect the deepening military ties between the two nations against the backdrop of the shifting global power balance.
