India kick starts two-day naval drill with Russia in eastern Indian Ocean

India on Friday kick-started a two-day naval exercise with Russia in the eastern Indian Ocean, two weeks after it conducted the Malabar wargames with the US, Australia, and Japan.

The Russian Navy has deployed its guided-missile cruiser Varyag, the large anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleyev and medium ocean tanker Pechenga for the "passage exercise", officials said.

The Indian Navy has been represented by indigenously constructed guided-missile frigate Shivalik and anti-submarine corvette Kadmatt along with their integral helicopters.

"The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability, improving understanding, and imbibing best practices between both the friendly navies. It would involve advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare exercises, weapon firings, seamanship exercises, and helicopter operations," Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

The passage exercises are conducted regularly by the Indian Navy with units of friendly foreign navies while visiting each other's ports or during a rendezvous at sea, he said.

He said the ongoing exercise reflects the strong long-term strategic relationship between the two countries.

This exercise is being conducted on the occasion of 'Navy Day' which emphasizes the strong bonds of friendship shared between the two friendly militaries. It would be another step towards strengthening Indo-Russian defense relations, Commander Madhwal said.

Navy Day is celebrated every year on December 4 to commemorate the Indian Navy's achievement in inflicting heavy damage on Pakistani vessels in Karachi harbor during the India-Pakistan war in 1971.

The Indian and the Russian navies conduct a biennial exercise called 'Indra Navy' and its last edition took place in the Northern Indian Ocean Region in September.

Last month, India held the Malabar exercise. India invited Australia for the exercise, effectively making it a drill by all the Quad member nations.

The Quad, comprising India, the US, Australia, and Japan, is aimed at ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, a region that witnessed increasing Chinese military assertiveness in recent years.

China has been suspicious about the purpose of the Malabar exercise as it feels that the annual wargame is an effort to contain its influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic, the Indian Navy participated in maritime exercises in the last few months with a number of countries.

(IMAGE CREDITS: PTI)