NATO member Italy conducted a “historic” naval activity with India last week as both nations deployed their aircraft carriers in the Indian Ocean for a maiden joint exercise.
The Indian navy announced on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday that it held a six-day long maritime engagement with its Italian counterpart that began on October 1, featuring aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya from India and ITS Cavour from Italy, as well as two other warships.
Italian Navy
The Cavour arrived at Goa on the southwestern coast of India on October 1, according to Newsweek‘s weekly update on aircraft carrier movements in the Indo-Pacific region. It was on its Indo-Pacific deployment and was underway in the South China Sea last month.
The Cavour‘s visit to India demonstrated Italy’s commitment to ensuring the security of international spaces and the freedom of navigation, the Italian embassy in New Delhi said. “Defense is top in the bilateral collaboration agenda of Italy and India,” it added.
The dual-carrier exercise came as India’s competitor, China, enhanced its presence in the Indian Ocean. New Delhi views the ocean, which is a route between Europe and Asia, as being within its sphere of influence and considers itself a security provider for its neighbors.
During the end of February and into March, the Indian navy showcased the capability of two aircraft carriers—the Russian-origin Vikramaditya and the locally built INS Vikrant—operating together. China has launched three aircraft carriers, with two of them operational.
Naval forces from India and Italy conducted operations with carrier-based fighter jets and helicopters, including combined large force engagements, air combat missions, helicopter operations, search-and-rescue missions, coordinated weapon firings, and joint maneuvers.
This exercise, which also featured the Indian air force, highlighted the joint capabilities and enhanced interoperability between the two navies, the Indian navy added. “Cooperate to get stronger and ready anywhere in the world,” the Italian navy said of the exercise.
Meanwhile, India will host the Malabar 2024 naval exercise, which is scheduled to run from Tuesday, October 8 to October 18 in the Indian Ocean, aiming to improve situational awareness in the maritime domain. Participating units also included the U.S., Australia, and Japan.
These four countries formed the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), an informal grouping that bonded by a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region. China said this “exclusive club” undermined trust and cooperation among regional countries.
Last month, U.S. President Joe Biden hosted the Quad leaders in Delaware for a summit, where they announced joint coast guard operations in the Indo-Pacific region scheduled for next year, a response to concerns about China’s assertive behavior at sea in the region.
