The Indian Navy's frontline warships engaged in a significant military exercise with the Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group of the US Navy in the Indian Ocean, showcasing the strengthening strategic ties between the two nations in this vital maritime region.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, spearheaded the US Navy's involvement in the exercise, which took place on July 12.
A carrier strike group is a formidable naval force, comprising an aircraft carrier accompanied by numerous destroyers, frigates, and other supporting vessels.
The exercise occurred amidst rising concerns among democratic nations over China's increasing military assertiveness in the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The Indian Navy's participation included the guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam and the replenishment ship INS Aditya.
"This joint maritime activity advanced interoperability between the two major defence partners and underscored their shared commitment to upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific," stated the US embassy in a readout.
The wargame aimed to enhance shared maritime domain awareness, improve information sharing, bolster replenishment and logistics interoperability, and refine combined air-to-air capabilities.
Participating US units included the USS Theodore Roosevelt USS Theodore Roosevelt, Carrier Air Wing 11, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Daniel Inouye.
Currently, the USS Theodore Roosevelt operates with carrier strike group nine, following this joint maritime exercise in the US Navy's 7th Fleet area of operations.
The 7th Fleet is the US Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacting with allies and partners to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The Indian Navy frequently collaborates with US Navy units in various multilateral exercises across the Pacific, including regions such as Southwest Asia and littoral Africa.
"In addition to the group sail, the Indian Navy is also playing leadership roles alongside the US Navy and other allies in the ongoing Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 exercise in Hawaii," the US readout highlighted.
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