List of Joint Military Exercises of India and Overseas Treaties 2020-21
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www.gradeup.co www.gradeup.co List of Joint Military Exercises of India and overseas treaties 2020-21 Sea Vigil 2021 Why in the news? • The Indian Navy is going to coordinate the second edition of the coastal defence exercise ‘Sea Vigil’. About Sea Vigil Exercise • It is a biennial exercise that was held in January 2019. • It is a build-up towards the major Theatre-level exercise TROPEX (Theatre-level Readiness Operational Exercise). • It is being organised to check the efficacy of the measures initiated to plug gaps in coastal security following the Mumbai terror attack in 2008. Related Information About Theatre-level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX) • It is an inter-service military exercise conducted by the Indian Navy every alternate year. • The exercise is aimed at testing combat readiness of the combined fleets of the Indian Navy, and the assets of the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, and the Indian Coast Guard. Open Skies Treaty: Russia withdraws after US departure Why in the news? • Russia has announced that they will withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty which will allow observation flights over military facilities following the United States’ exit from the pact. www.gradeup.co Reason for the withdrawal • Moscow has argued that the US withdrawal will erode global security by making it more difficult for governments to interpret the intentions of other nations, particularly amid Russia-West tensions after the Russian annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014. What is the Open Skies Treaty? • It was first proposed in 1955 by former US President Dwight Eisenhower as a means to deescalate tensions during the Cold War, the landmark treaty was eventually signed in 1992 between NATO members and former Warsaw Pact countries following the demise of the Soviet Union. • It went into effect in 2002 and currently has 35 signatories along with one non-ratifying member (Kyrgyzstan). Aims • The Open sky treaty aims at building confidence among members through mutual openness, thus reducing the chances of accidental war. • Under the treaty, a member state can “spy” on any part of the host nation, with the latter’s consent. • A country can undertake aerial imaging over the host state after giving notice 72 hours before, and sharing its exact flight path 24 hours before. • The information gathered, such as on troop movements, military exercises and missile deployments, has to be shared with all member states. • Only approved imaging equipment is permitted on the surveillance flights, and officials from the host state can also stay on board throughout the planned journey. Significance of the Open Skies Treaty • It is currently the preferred mode for intelligence gathering. • It also help to reduce the reliability Washington to obtain classified satellite data, which would be more difficult to obtain compared to OST surveillance records that have to be shared with all members as a treaty obligation. Related Information About New START Treaty • The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) is a treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on measures for the further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms. • It entered into force on 5th February 2011. • It is a successor to the START framework of 1991 (at the end of the Cold War) that limited both sides to 1,600 strategic delivery vehicles and 6,000 warheads. • The USA has been worried that extending New Start would negatively impact an arms deal with China and Russia. • It is concerned that China’s nuclear stockpile could be doubled if the New Start Treaty continued as is, without including China. • The New Start Treaty also suffered from verification inadequacies and that the U.S. intended to establish a new arms control regime which would include China. Exercise Desert Knight 21 Why in the news? www.gradeup.co • The Exercise Desert Knight 21 between Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force (Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace) will be held recently at Jodhpur, Rajasthan. About Exercise Desert Knight 21. • This Exercise has been hosted by the Indian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force (Armée de l’Air et de I’Espace). What is the aim of this exercise? • It will provide the operational exposure and help in sharing practices towards enhancing combat capability. What is unique about this exercise? • For the first time ever, the Indian skies will be hosting Rafale aircraft by both sides. Defence Exercises between India and France • Varuna – Naval exercise • Garuda – Air exercise • Shakti – Army exercise Operation Trident Why in the news? • Recently, India celebrated December 4 as Navy Day to commemorate Operation Trident. About Operation Trident • Operation Trident was an offensive operation launched by the Indian Navy on Pakistan's port city of Karachi during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. • Under Operation Trident, the Indian Navy sank three vessels near the Pakistani port city of Karachi. • The stars of the mission were the then-recently acquired Soviet Osa missile boats, fitted with 4 SS-N-2 (P-15) Styx missiles. www.gradeup.co • Operation Trident saw the first use of anti-ship missiles in combat in the region as well as the first sinking of naval vessels during hostilities in the area since World War II. Note: • The Navy plans to celebrate 2021 as 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh' as part of commemorating the 50th anniversary of the victory in the 1971 war. 35th Edition of India - Indonesia Coordinated Patrol Why in the news? • The 35th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy has been recently conducted. About India - Indonesia Coordinated Patrol • It is a biannual coordinated patrol exercise along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). • India was represented by Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kulish which is an indigenously built missile corvette along with P8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). • The Indonesian Navy is represented by Indonesian Naval Ship KRI Cut Nyak Dien, a Kapitan Pattimura (Parchim I) class corvette and an MPA of the Indonesian Navy. • The CORPAT assisted in improving the interoperability between the two navies and contributed to strengthening Navy to Navy cooperation. Background • CORPAT is an Indian Navy tactical procedure on behalf of Indian “Wannabe” diplomatic ambitions rather than a Multi-National Treaty. • CORPAT has been carried out with Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Thailand. www.gradeup.co • It is a naval procedure that India carries out with any other country that is willing in an attempt at showing the flag as a diplomatic manoeuvre. Mission Sagar - II Why in the news? • Recently Indian Naval Ship (INS) Airavat entered Port Sudan with 100 tonnes of food aid as a part of Mission Sagar-II. About Mission Sagar-II • It follows the first ‘Mission Sagar’ undertaken in May-June 2020, wherein India reached out to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, and Comoros, and provided food aid and medicines. • Under Mission Sagar-II, Indian Naval Ship Airavat will deliver food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, and Eritrea. • Mission Sagar-II is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region ‘SAGAR’ and highlights the importance accorded by India to relations with her maritime neighbours and further strengthens the existing bond. Related Information Mission SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) • It is a term coined by Prime Minister Modi in 2015 during his Mauritius visit with a focus on the blue economy. • It is a maritime initiative which gives priority to the Indian Ocean region for ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity of India in the Indian Ocean region. • The goal is to seek a climate of trust and transparency; respect for international maritime rules and norms by all countries; sensitivity to each other’s interests; peaceful resolution of maritime issues; and increase in maritime cooperation. • It is in line with the principles of the Indian Ocean Rim Association. MALABAR Naval Exercise Why in the news? • The 24th edition of the MALABAR naval exercise scheduled in two phases in November 2020. www.gradeup.co • Phase 1 of the Exercise MALABAR 20 involving participation by Indian Navy (IN), United States Navy (USN), Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is set to commence off Visakhapatnam in Bay of Bengal. • Phase 2 of MALABAR 20 was conducted in the Arabian Sea in mid- November 2020. Related Information About MALABAR naval exercise • It is a trilateral Maritime Exercise MALABAR is scheduled between the navies of India, Japan, and the USA. • MALABAR series of maritime exercises commenced in 1992 as a bilateral IN-USN exercise. • It got permanently expanded into a trilateral format with the inclusion of Japan in 2015. Note: • India and Japan defence forces organize a series of bilateral exercises namely, JIMEX, SHINYUU Maitri, and Dharma Guardian. • India and USA conduct Joint Military Exercises namely, Yudha Abhyas. About Malabar Exercise • It is an annual trilateral naval exercise between the navies of India, Japan, and the USA which is held alternately in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. • It began as a bilateral naval exercise between India and the USA in 1992 and was expanded into a trilateral format with the inclusion of Japan in 2015. • The Exercise is aimed to support free, open, and inclusive Indo- Pacific and remain committed to a rule based international order. • It is also aimed at interoperability with an emphasis on humanitarian assistance, surface war maneuvers, anti-submarines warfare, counter-terror operations, gunnery training and aerial surveillance. • MALABAR 2019 would endeavour to further strengthen India - Japan - US Naval cooperation and enhance interoperability, based on shared values and principles. Other Related Exercise Between Indian and Japan www.gradeup.co • India and Japan defense forces organize a series of bilateral exercises namely, JIMEX, SHINYUU Maitri, and Dharma Guardian.