US, Indian Navy to hold drills near Andaman and Nicobar amid tensions with China

United States Navy's aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is set to take part in a naval exercise with Indian warships amid ongoing Si-India border dispute. US and Indian Navy will hold PASSEX (passing exercise) near Andaman and Nicobar Islands, months before Malabar exercise as Indian government mulls over inclusion of Australia.

latest naval exercise comes on back of US' operational deployment of “freedom of navigation” mission in disputed South China Sea, led by USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan. joint naval drills send a loud mess to China of a possible military alliance between India and US.

naval exercise will include warships, submarines, and frigates from  Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) as well as Eastern Naval Command (ENC) headquartered at Visakhapatnam. Malacca strait remains an important trade route for China and its Belt and Road project, which could be used by India to its advant. 

Read: Myanmar: US-China Embassies Get Into A War Of Words Over South China Sea, Hong Kong

South China Sea conflict

China recently accused United States of trying to drive a wedge between countries in Indo-pacific region by deliberately sending its ships to South China Sea. During a regular press briefing, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that US is sending ship in contentious region to flex its muscles after two US Navy aircraft carriers arrived re.

In a significant show of force, one B-52 Stratofortress bomber participated in a maritime integration exercise with USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike groups in South China Sea on July 5. US Navy said that B-52 bomber, which took off from home station in Louisiana, flew 28-hour mission to demonstrate US Indo-Pacific Command’s commitment to security and stability of Indo-Pacific region.

US Navy activities come after Department of Defense raised concerns over Beijing’s military exercises in disputed waters of South China Sea, saying it is will furr destabilise situation. United States has been strongly objecting to Beijing’s sweeping claims on South China Sea, calling it unlawful maritime claims.

Read: India Rejects China's Territorial Claim Over South China Sea, Calls Water Body 'part Of Global Commons'