India, Myanmar to hold coordinated patrol in Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal

NEW DELHI: India and Myanmar have signed an agreement on standard operating procedure for coordinated patrols in the strategically significant Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal even.

As part of the ongoing India-Myanmar defence relations, the fourth edition of the India-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol (IMCOR) was successfully undertaken from February 13-16 along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Andaman Sea.

Indian Navy ships Saryu and Bitra, along with Myanmar ships Aung Zeya and FAC 563, participated in the 4th IMCOR.

During the closing ceremony of 4th IMCOR, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for IMCOR was signed between Indian Navy and Myanmar Navy.

Myanmar is only the third country with which India has signed a formal agreement for maritime coordinated patrols and reflects growing naval interaction between India and Myanmar, a statement by the Navy said.

The signing of the SOP will facilitate smooth conduct of coordinated patrols between the two neighbours that share a long maritime boundary in Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.

Indonesia and Thailand are the other two countries with which India has signed such an agreement.