India stands ready to widen the scope of the Malabar exercise by welcoming Australia into its fold. The decision is set to sprout from a virtual summit between India and Australia aimed at fostering better cooperation as well as solidifying bilateral ties.
About the Malabar Exercise: A Snapshot
Established in 1992, the Malabar Exercise represents an annual trilateral naval drill involving India, Japan, and the USA. Initially starting as a bilateral maritime drill between India and the USA, the exercise was later expanded in 2015 to include Japan. The host of the exercise alternates annually between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Notably, India and Australia also engage in other joint exercises, such as Pitch Black and AUSINDEX.
Key Factors Behind India’s Decision
The inclusion of Australia in the Malabar Exercise, despite regular requests from Australia, has been a decision India has traditionally resisted for fear of it being perceived as part of a ‘quadrilateral military alliance’ targeting China. However, recent tensions with China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) might have nudged India towards adopting a more flexible approach. It’s worth mentioning that India is already part of the Quad, having attended the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue in November 2019.
Quad: A Strategic Dialogue
The Quad—comprising India, the USA, Japan, and Australia—is an informal strategic dialogue with the shared goal of supporting a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
Focus Areas of the Virtual Summit Between India and Australia
Foremost among the areas of focus during the virtual summit are the Indo-Pacific cooperation and strengthening defense ties. The two countries share a mutual vision of a “free, open, inclusive, and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region. In addition to focusing on broader maritime cooperation, plans for a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) agreement are also underway. Australia has concurred with India’s proposition of deploying a Liaison Officer at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram.
Anticipated Outcomes from the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement
The Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA)—a crucial deal that permits reciprocal use of each other’s military bases for fuel and provision exchange, aimed at boosting logistical support and operational turnaround—is on the verge of conclusion between the two nations. India has a similar arrangement called the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the USA.
A Look into the Background of the MLSA
Australia was the first to propose a draft MLSA in the aftermath of India signing its inaugural such agreement with the USA in 2016. Initially set for signing in 2019, and later in January 2020, the pact’s finalization was delayed due to the Australian bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mapping the Way Forward: Converging and Diverging Interests
Despite being at varied stages of development, India and Australia share common as well as disparate interests. The future of their relationship will hinge on three pillars: economic relations, geostrategic congruence, and people-to-people ties. Both countries remain cautious about China’s impact on maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region. The inclusion of Australia in the Malabar Exercise, coupled with reinforcing the Quad concept, could pave the way for a rule-based, open, free, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.