List Of Military Exercises Involving India In 2018

India engaged in a diverse range of military exercises with numerous countries throughout 2018, encompassing army, navy, and air force drills. These exercises aimed to bolster interoperability between armed forces and strengthen defense cooperation with partner nations. Key army exercises included "Lamitye" with Seychelles, "Yudhabhyas" with the United States, "Surya Kiran" with Nepal, "Ajeya Warrior" with the United Kingdom, "Sampriti" with Bangladesh, "Hand in Hand" with China, "Garuda Shakti" with Indonesia, "Prabaldostyk" with Kazakhstan, "Khanjar" with Kyrgyzstan, "Ekuverin" with Maldives, "Nomadic Elephant" with Mongolia, "Alnagah V" with Oman, "Shakti" with France, and "VINBAX" with Vietnam.

Naval exercises featured "Immsarex" with China, "Indra" with Russia, "SIMBEX-17" with Singapore, "Varuna-17" with France, "KONKAN" with the Royal Navy (UK), "Malabar" with the US and Japan, "SLINEX" with Sri Lanka, and "CORPAT" with Indonesia. The air force conducted "SIAM BHARAT" with Thailand, while border security forces participated in "Sundarban Moitri" with Bangladesh. These exercises, held both in India and abroad, reflect India's proactive defense diplomacy and its commitment to regional security.

India's Multifaceted Military Exercises in 2018: A Deep Dive into Defense Diplomacy

India's foreign policy in the 21st century has increasingly emphasized proactive engagement through various avenues, with defense cooperation emerging as a critical component. The year 2018 witnessed a particularly active schedule of joint military exercises involving India and a diverse array of partner nations. These exercises, spanning the army, navy, and air force, served not only to enhance interoperability and operational readiness but also to solidify strategic partnerships and project India's influence in the evolving geopolitical landscape. A comprehensive analysis of these exercises reveals a multifaceted approach to defense diplomacy, reflecting India's strategic priorities and its commitment to regional and global security.

The Spectrum of Exercises: Army, Navy, and Air Force

The sheer variety of exercises conducted by India in 2018 underscores the breadth of its defense cooperation efforts. Each service – army, navy, and air force – engaged in exercises tailored to specific operational environments and strategic objectives.

• Army Exercises: The army exercises focused on a range of scenarios, from counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain (Surya Kiran with Nepal, Khanjar with Kyrgyzstan) to enhancing interoperability in conventional warfare (Yudhabhyas with the US, Ajeya Warrior with the UK). Exercises like Sampriti with Bangladesh and Hand in Hand with China highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in addressing shared security challenges. Lamitye with Seychelles and Ekuverin with Maldives underscored India's commitment to maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. Prabaldostyk with Kazakhstan and Nomadic Elephant with Mongolia reflect growing ties with Central and East Asian nations, respectively. Alnagah V with Oman and Shakti with France signify strong defense partnerships with key players in the Middle East and Europe. Finally, VINBAX with Vietnam underscores growing cooperation with Southeast Asian nations.
• Navy Exercises: Naval exercises primarily focused on maritime security, anti-piracy operations, and power projection. Indra with Russia, SIMBEX-17 with Singapore, Varuna-17 with France, and Malabar with the US and Japan were particularly significant, involving complex naval maneuvers and demonstrating India's growing maritime capabilities. KONKAN with the Royal Navy (UK) highlighted enduring defense ties with a historical partner. SLINEX with Sri Lanka and CORPAT with Indonesia underscored India's commitment to regional maritime security and cooperation with neighboring countries. Immsarex with China, while limited in scope, was a crucial confidence-building measure aimed at managing maritime tensions.
• Air Force Exercises: The SIAM BHARAT exercise with Thailand was a notable example of air force cooperation, focusing on enhancing interoperability in air defense and strike operations.
• Border Security Exercises: The Sundarban Moitri exercise with Bangladesh focused on border management and security cooperation, reflecting the importance of maintaining stability along shared borders.

Key Actors and Their Strategic Significance

The diverse range of countries participating in these exercises reflects India's multifaceted foreign policy and its strategic partnerships across the globe. Each partnership holds unique significance and contributes to India's overall strategic objectives.

• United States: The US is a key strategic partner of India, particularly in defense cooperation. Exercises like Yudhabhyas and Malabar reflect the growing convergence of strategic interests between the two countries, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. The Malabar exercise, which also includes Japan and Australia, is a crucial platform for enhancing maritime security cooperation and countering China's growing influence in the region.
• Russia: Russia has been a long-standing strategic partner and a major supplier of defense equipment to India. The Indra exercise reflects the enduring strength of this partnership and the continued importance of defense cooperation between the two countries. Despite India's diversification of its defense procurement, Russia remains a crucial partner in maintaining India's military capabilities.
• France: France is a key strategic partner with growing defense cooperation. Exercises like Shakti and Varuna-17 reflect the deepening defense ties between the two countries. France is a major supplier of advanced defense technology to India, and the two countries share a common vision for a multipolar world.
• United Kingdom: The UK is a historical partner with ongoing defense cooperation. The Ajeya Warrior and KONKAN exercises reflect the enduring strength of this relationship and the continued importance of defense cooperation between the two countries.
• Japan: Japan is a key strategic partner with growing defense cooperation, especially in maritime security. The Malabar exercise, which also includes the US and Australia, is a crucial platform for enhancing maritime security cooperation and countering China's growing influence in the region.
• Australia: Although not explicitly mentioned in the provided list for 2018, Australia's participation in the Malabar exercise (which it rejoined in 2020 after a hiatus) is crucial to note in the broader context of India's strategic partnerships. The quadrilateral security dialogue (QUAD) among India, the US, Japan, and Australia underscores the growing convergence of strategic interests and the commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
• China: The inclusion of China in exercises like Hand in Hand and Immsarex, despite the complex and often tense relationship between the two countries, highlights the importance of confidence-building measures and managing potential conflicts. These exercises, while limited in scope, provide a platform for military-to-military dialogue and help to reduce the risk of miscalculation.
• Southeast Asian Nations: India's engagement with Southeast Asian nations like Singapore (SIMBEX-17), Indonesia (Garuda Shakti, CORPAT), Thailand (SIAM BHARAT), and Vietnam (VINBAX) reflects its growing focus on the Indo-Pacific region and its commitment to maritime security in the South China Sea. These exercises enhance interoperability and strengthen defense cooperation with key partners in the region.
• South Asian Neighbors: Exercises with neighboring countries like Nepal (Surya Kiran), Bangladesh (Sampriti, Sundarban Moitri), and Sri Lanka (SLINEX) underscore the importance of regional cooperation and maintaining stability in the South Asian region. These exercises focus on a range of scenarios, from counter-terrorism operations to border management and maritime security.
• Indian Ocean Island Nations: Exercises with Seychelles (Lamitye) and Maldives (Ekuverin) highlight India's commitment to maritime security in the Indian Ocean region and its role as a net security provider in the region. These exercises focus on anti-piracy operations, maritime domain awareness, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
• Central Asian Nations: India's engagement with Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan (Prabaldostyk) and Kyrgyzstan (Khanjar) reflects its growing strategic interests in the region and its commitment to counter-terrorism cooperation. These exercises focus on enhancing interoperability in mountainous terrain and addressing shared security challenges.
• Mongolia: The Nomadic Elephant exercise with Mongolia underscores India's growing ties with East Asian nations and its commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region.
• Oman: The Alnagah V exercise with Oman signifies strong defense partnerships with key players in the Middle East and reflects India's strategic interests in the region.

The Strategic Objectives Behind the Exercises

India's participation in these military exercises is driven by a range of strategic objectives, all aimed at enhancing its national security and promoting its interests in the region and beyond.

• Enhancing Interoperability: A primary objective of these exercises is to enhance interoperability between the armed forces of India and its partner nations. This involves improving communication, coordination, and operational procedures, enabling them to work together effectively in joint operations and combined responses to security challenges.
• Building Trust and Confidence: Joint military exercises are crucial for building trust and confidence between the armed forces of different countries. They provide opportunities for personnel to interact, learn from each other, and develop personal relationships, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual understanding.
• Improving Military Capabilities: These exercises provide valuable opportunities for the Indian armed forces to improve their military capabilities, learn new tactics and techniques, and test their equipment in realistic operational environments. They also allow them to share their expertise with partner nations, contributing to the overall improvement of military capabilities in the region.
• Projecting Influence: Military exercises are a powerful tool for projecting India's influence in the region and beyond. They demonstrate India's commitment to regional security and its willingness to work with partner nations to address shared security challenges. They also enhance India's image as a responsible and reliable partner.
• Strengthening Strategic Partnerships: These exercises are an integral part of India's efforts to strengthen its strategic partnerships with key countries across the globe. They provide a platform for high-level military-to-military dialogue, fostering closer cooperation and coordination on a range of security issues.
• Maritime Security: With the increasing importance of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region, many of these exercises focus on enhancing India's maritime capabilities and strengthening its cooperation with partner nations in addressing maritime threats such as piracy, terrorism, and illegal fishing.
• Counter-Terrorism: Given the persistent threat of terrorism, several exercises focus on enhancing interoperability in counter-terrorism operations and sharing best practices in combating terrorism.
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): Some exercises also incorporate HADR scenarios, reflecting the importance of military forces in responding to natural disasters and providing humanitarian assistance to affected populations.

Historical Context and Evolution of India's Defense Diplomacy

India's engagement in joint military exercises has evolved significantly over the years, reflecting its changing strategic priorities and its growing role in regional and global security.

• Non-Alignment Era: During the Cold War era, India followed a policy of non-alignment, which limited its participation in joint military exercises. However, even during this period, India maintained close defense ties with the Soviet Union and conducted some limited exercises.
• Post-Cold War Era: With the end of the Cold War, India began to actively pursue defense cooperation with a wider range of countries, including the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. This shift was driven by the need to modernize its armed forces and address new security challenges such as terrorism and maritime security.
• Growing Focus on the Indo-Pacific: In recent years, India's defense diplomacy has increasingly focused on the Indo-Pacific region, reflecting its growing strategic interests in the region and its commitment to maintaining a free and open maritime order. This has led to increased participation in exercises like Malabar and SIMBEX, which involve key partners in the region.
• "Act East" Policy: India's "Act East" policy, which aims to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian countries, has also contributed to increased defense cooperation with countries in the region, as evidenced by exercises like Garuda Shakti and SIAM BHARAT.
• Countering China's Influence: India's growing defense cooperation with countries like the US, Japan, and Australia is also driven by concerns about China's growing influence in the region. These partnerships aim to balance China's power and ensure a stable and multipolar Indo-Pacific.

Key Terms and Concepts

Understanding the terminology associated with military exercises is crucial for comprehending their significance and implications.

• Military Exercise: A military exercise is a simulated war game or series of maneuvers conducted by armed forces for training, testing tactics, and evaluating military readiness. These exercises can range from small-scale drills involving a few personnel to large-scale operations involving thousands of troops and sophisticated equipment.
• Interoperability: Interoperability refers to the ability of different military forces to operate together effectively. This requires common communication systems, compatible equipment, and standardized operational procedures.
• Defense Cooperation: Defense cooperation encompasses a wide range of activities, including joint military exercises, technology transfer, intelligence sharing, and defense procurement. It aims to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance security cooperation between countries.
• Combined Arms: Combined arms refers to the coordinated use of different military branches (army, navy, air force) in a single operation. Military exercises often involve combined arms training to enhance the effectiveness of joint operations.
• Net Security Provider: A net security provider is a country that contributes to regional or global security by providing military assistance, conducting peacekeeping operations, and promoting stability. India aspires to be a net security provider in the Indian Ocean region.
• Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA): Maritime domain awareness refers to the ability to monitor and understand activities in the maritime environment. This is crucial for addressing maritime threats such as piracy, terrorism, and illegal fishing.
• Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs): Confidence-building measures are designed to reduce tensions and prevent misunderstandings between countries. Military exercises can serve as CBMs by promoting transparency and fostering communication between armed forces.

Organizations Involved

The primary organization involved in these exercises is the Indian Armed Forces, encompassing the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Each branch plays a specific role in planning and executing the exercises, depending on the nature and scope of the operation. The Ministry of Defence plays a crucial oversight and coordination role, ensuring that the exercises align with India's overall strategic objectives.

Legal and Procedural Frameworks

While there is no single overarching legal framework governing joint military exercises, these activities are typically conducted under the framework of bilateral or multilateral agreements between the participating countries. These agreements outline the scope, objectives, and rules of engagement for the exercises. They also address issues such as liability, jurisdiction, and the use of force. The specific procedures for planning and conducting the exercises are typically determined by the participating military forces, based on their respective doctrines and operational procedures.

Stakeholder Perspectives and Underlying Interests

The various stakeholders involved in these military exercises have distinct perspectives and underlying interests that shape their participation and influence the outcomes.

• India: India's official position is that these exercises are aimed at strengthening defense cooperation with friendly nations and enhancing regional security. However, its underlying interests are more complex and multifaceted. They include enhancing its military capabilities, building strategic partnerships, projecting its influence in the region, and ensuring its own security in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
• Partner Countries: Partner countries typically state that their participation in these exercises is aimed at enhancing defense cooperation with India and addressing shared security challenges. However, their underlying interests may vary depending on their specific strategic priorities and their relationship with India. For example, the US may be interested in strengthening its alliance with India to counter China's growing influence, while smaller countries like Seychelles and Maldives may be seeking India's assistance in enhancing their maritime security capabilities.
• China: China views India's growing defense cooperation with countries like the US, Japan, and Australia with suspicion, seeing it as an attempt to contain its rise. However, it also recognizes the importance of maintaining stable relations with India and has participated in some limited exercises with India to promote confidence-building.
• Pakistan: Pakistan views India's growing military capabilities and its defense cooperation with other countries with concern, seeing it as a threat to its own security. It closely monitors India's military exercises and seeks to maintain a credible deterrent against any potential aggression.

Broader Implications and Geopolitical Significance

The joint military exercises conducted by India in 2018 have significant implications across various domains, shaping its foreign policy and influencing the regional and global security landscape.

• Political: These exercises strengthen bilateral relations and enhance India's diplomatic influence. They demonstrate India's commitment to working with partner nations to address shared security challenges and promote regional stability.
• Diplomatic: They build trust and foster cooperation with partner nations, creating a foundation for closer collaboration on a range of issues beyond defense.
• Security: They enhance military capabilities and improve regional security by promoting interoperability and strengthening defense cooperation.
• Economic: They promote defense trade and investment, as India increasingly seeks to procure advanced defense technology from partner nations.
• Technological: They facilitate technology transfer and innovation in the defense sector, as India seeks to modernize its armed forces and develop indigenous defense capabilities.

Connections to Broader Issues and Future Outlook

India's military exercises are closely connected to several ongoing issues and trends in the region and beyond.

• Indo-Pacific Security: India's growing focus on maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region is a key driver of its defense diplomacy. The exercises reflect its commitment to maintaining a free and open maritime order and countering China's growing influence in the region.
• Counter-Terrorism: India's efforts to counter-terrorism and enhance regional stability are also reflected in its military exercises, which often focus on enhancing interoperability in counter-terrorism operations.
• Strategic Competition with China: India's strategic competition with China is a major factor shaping its defense policy and its partnerships with other countries. The exercises reflect its efforts to balance China's power and ensure a stable and multipolar Indo-Pacific.

Looking ahead, India is likely to continue conducting joint military exercises with friendly nations to enhance its military capabilities and strengthen its strategic partnerships. The focus will likely be on maritime security, counter-terrorism, and regional stability. India will also likely seek to expand its defense cooperation with new partners, particularly in Africa and Latin America, as it seeks to project its influence and promote its interests on a global scale. The evolution of these exercises will be crucial in shaping India's role as a major player in the evolving global order. These exercises help India’s defense readiness and international relationship with friendly countries.