India, Japan, US to participate in naval exercise in Guam

Naval ships, aircraft and personnel from India, Japan and the United States will participate in exercise 'Malabar 2018,' off the coast of Guam in the Philippine Sea in mid-summer.

As per a release by the US embassy, Malabar 2018, for the first time, is being conducted off the coast in the Philippine Sea which will include both ashore and at-sea training.

The exercise is the latest in a continuing series of exercises that has grown in scope and complexity over the years to address various threats to maritime security.

"The training will further focus on high-end warfighting skill sets, subject matter expert and professional exchanges, combined carrier strike group operations, maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations, surface and anti-submarine warfare, medical operations, damage control, helicopter operations and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations," the US Navy said.

It will further work towards building upon and advancing the working relationships between Indian, Japanese, and the US maritime forces.

This exercise is expected to increase the level of understanding and interoperability between the three navies.