The Indian Navy’s indigenous stealth frigate, INS Shivalik, has arrived at Yokosuka, Japan, to participate in the bilateral Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2024 (JIMEX 24), marking the eighth edition of the exercise since its inception in 2012.
“INS Shivalik was accorded a warm welcome by Vice Admiral ITO Hiroshi, Commander of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Yokosuka District, and Ambassador Sibi George, Ambassador of India to Japan,” stated a Defense Ministry spokesperson.
The exercise comprises both harbour and sea phases. During the harbour phase, professional interactions, sports events, and social engagements between the two navies will take place. Subsequently, the navies will jointly hone their warfighting skills at sea and enhance their interoperability through complex multi-discipline operations involving surface, sub-surface, and air domains.
Representing the Indian Navy is the INS Shivalik, while the JMSDF is being represented by the guided-missile destroyer JS Yugiri. Integral helicopters from both navies will also participate in the joint exercise.
“JIMEX 24 has grown in scope and complexity over the years, providing an opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices and facilitating operational interactions between the Indian Navy and the JMSDF to foster mutual cooperation and reaffirm their shared commitment towards maritime security in the Indo-Pacific,” the spokesperson added. The bilateral maritime exercise is seen as a significant step in strengthening the strategic partnership between India and Japan, two key players in the Indo-Pacific region. It aims to enhance interoperability, promote mutual understanding, and reinforce the commitment to maintaining a rules-based maritime order. Exercises like JIMEX 24 underscore the importance of collaboration and coordination among like-minded nations in addressing shared maritime challenges and upholding the principles of freedom of navigation and peaceful resolution of disputes.
