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India to Invite Australia to Join Naval Drill in Effort to Contain China

Anjana Pasricha

   NEW DELHI - In a significant move to strengthen defense cooperation
   between India, Japan, Australia and the United States with an eye on
   countering China, New Delhi is firming up plans to invite Australia to
   take part in naval exercises in the Indian Ocean.

   India has been wary about including Australia in the annual Malabar
   exercises due to fears of antagonizing China, but the recent military
   confrontation with Beijing along their Himalayan border will prompt New
   Delhi to deepen strategic ties with Indo Pacific countries, according
   to analysts.

   "India was moving in that direction, but China's aggressive behavior
   has accelerated the pace of India partnering with the U.S. and other
   like-minded countries like Australia and Japan," says Rajeswari
   Rajagopalan Pillai, distinguished fellow at the Observer Research
   Foundation in New Delhi.

   New Delhi is expected to invite Australia later this month following
   clearances at the top level and consultations with the U.S. and Japan,
   according to Indian defense officials who cannot be quoted due to
   rules.

   "It is almost done," says former navy spokesman D.K. Sharma. "Countries
   like India and Australia see no option but to come into a construct
   which will aim to contain Beijing."

   Australia's participation in the maritime exercises would see four key
   naval powers in the region come together at a time when broad
   territorial claims made by Beijing in the South China Sea have
   triggered growing concerns.

   The Malabar naval drill, originally a bilateral exercise between India
   and the US, was expanded to include Japan as a permanent member in
   2017. It has occasionally also included other countries like Singapore.

   Australia also participated in the Malabar exercises in 2007 but
   following vociferous objections by Beijing, Canberra did not return to
   the drills. Although it has expressed its desire to take part in recent
   years, India, wary of Chinese sensitivities, did not give the nod.

   "Australia sees value in participating in quadrilateral defense
   activities in order to increase interoperability and advance our
   collective interests in a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific
   region," the Australian Department of Defense spokesman said in an
   emailed response adding that it has yet to receive an invitation.

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