The inaugural trilateral naval exercise, SITMEX-2019, has recently been launched at Port Blair, Andaman, and Nicobar Islands. This significant initiative involves the Indian Navy (IN), the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), and the Royal Thailand Navy (RTN) and spans for five days. The exercise aims to bolster maritime inter-relationship amongst the three countries while enhancing maritime security in the region.
The Phases of SITMEX-2019
SITMEX-2019 is conducted in two distinct phases. The first of these is the harbour phase which includes professional exchanges, sports fixtures, and cross-deck familiarisation visits. The purpose of this phase is to foster closer ties and mutual understanding among the participating navies.
The sea phase follows the harbour phase and involves various surface and air operations. The operations include gunnery exercises, force protection measures, and communication drills. The intent behind this phase is to gain valuable experience and learn best practices from each other.
Indian Participation
On the Indian side, the participants include Indian Naval Ships Ranvir- a guided-missile destroyer, Kora- a missile corvette, and Sukanya- an offshore patrol vessel. Additionally, P8I, a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, has also been deployed for the exercise. Through their participation, the Indian navy exhibits its readiness to work cooperatively with other nations and contribute meaningfully to regional maritime security.
| Participating Vessel | Type |
|---|---|
| INS Ranvir | Guided-Missile Destroyer |
| INS Kora | Missile Corvette |
| INS Sukanya | Offshore Patrol Vessel |
| P8I | Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft |
A Broader Context of Cooperation
While strengthening cooperation and inter-relationship among the three participating nations, SITMEX-2019 represents a broader context of cooperation. This maiden trilateral exercise provides an opportunity for the navies to collaborate and nurture stronger ties.
This recent trilateral exercise is not the only example of Indian collaboration with these nations. The Indian Army and Royal Thailand Army are also involved in a joint Military Exercise called MAITREE-2019 held in Meghalaya from Sept 16-29, 2019. Additionally, an annual Maritime Bilateral Exercise known as SIMBEX occurs between India and Singapore, another demonstration of the long-standing friendly ties between these countries.