India-japan Air Force Exercise Next Year

[ROUDRAM]

[color=#3F3F3F]India and Japan have agreed to a substantial increase in bilateral defence engagements during Defence Minister A K Antony’s visit to Tokyo with the two countries set to initiate staff level army talks next year, besides conducting their first ever joint air force exercise.[/color]


[color=#3F3F3F]During his visit to Japan, Antony also talked tough on the need for freedom of navigation in international waters and sea lanes of communication. This has been seen as some as a hint towards China that has recently increased assertiveness in the South China sea, large parts of which Beijing considers as its territorial waters.[/color]


[color=#3F3F3F]While the nations have conducted several naval exercises in the past, the two sides have for the first time agreed on a joint air force exercise with aircraft from the Japanese Self Defence Forces set to visit India next year. The two nations will also hold a joint naval exercises next year and exchange officers and soldiers for cross purposes. An agreement has also been inked to exchange cadets between the Indian National Defence Academy and its Japanese counterpart.[/color]

[color=#3F3F3F]“Maritime security, anti-piracy measures, freedom of navigation and maintaining the security of Sea Lanes of Communication to facilitate unhindered trade by the sea routes-are dominated the talks between Antony and his Japanese counterpart Yasuo Ichikawa,” said Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar, who was part of the Indian delegation.[/color]
[color=#3F3F3F]Stressing the importance of freedom of sea lanes, the two sides have decided to “actively pursue consultations and cooperation in the field of maritime security both bilaterally and in association with all other countries in the region”, Kar said.[/color]