Geo-strategic push: Inaugural India-Indonesia bilateral maritime exercise from October 17

NEW DELHI: India and Indonesia will expand strategic and defence ties by jointly conducting an inaugral maritime exercise which is scheduled from October 17 to October 18 in the Andaman Sea.

This bilateral exercise will be embedded in the expanded version of the coordinated patrol (CORPAT) which will commence from October 3 and continue till October 21.

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INS Saryu, an indigenously built NOPV based at the Andaman and Nicobar Command, along with a Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft, shall participate in the 26th edition of the CORPAT being held this year.

INS Saryu entered Port Belawan, Indonesia on October 1, 2015 and is sailing out today for CORPAT with Indonesian Navy.

"Defence relations between India and Indonesia have been growing steadily with regular joint activities and exchange of personnel between the Armed Forces of the two countries. Under the broad ambit of this strategic partnership, the two navies have been carrying out Coordinated Patrolling (CORPAT) along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) twice a year since 2002, with the aim of keeping this vital part of the Indian Ocean Region safe and secure for commercial shipping and international trade," said a Defence Ministry press release.

The CORPAT has strengthened understanding and interoperability between the navies, instituting measures to prosecute vessels engaged in unlawful activities and conducting Search and Rescue as well as pollution control.

The release said that the importance of this bilateral cooperation has increased significantly with the scheduling of the first Bilateral Maritime Exercise along with the 26th edition of the CORPAT being held this year. The Bilateral Maritime Exercise and the CORPAT would see participation by one warship and one Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both sides.

The Opening Ceremony at Belawan, Indonesia from October 1 to October 3, was attended by Vice Admiral PK Chaterjee, the Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command.