Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II and III – International relations; Defence
In news:
India to decide whether to include Australia in the Malabar exercises with Japan and the U.S.
The decision, if taken, could bring all Quad countries together as part of the annual war games.
After years of reluctance, India said it was open to Australia’s inclusion in the Malabar as an observer.
About Malabar Exercise
Malabar is an annual military exercise between the navies of India, Japan and the U.S. held alternately in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
The annual Malabar exercise started in 1992 as a bilateral event between the navies of India and the United States.
It was expanded into a trilateral format with the inclusion of Japan in 2015.
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Australia’s inclusion would be seen as a possible first step towards the militarisation of the Quad coalition, something Beijing has opposed in the past.
Japan and US have been keen on Australia’s inclusion and have been pushing India to consider it.
