The fourth edition of the India-Japan maritime exercise, JIMEX, is taking place in the backdrop of growing concerns over China's military assertiveness in the Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific. It is the first military exercise between the two strategic partners after they signed a landmark agreement on September 9 that allows their militaries to access each other's bases for logistics support. Navies of India and Japan carried out a range of complex drills in the North Arabian Sea. Let us take a look at some of the images from joint maritime exercise JIMEX-2020:
The JIMEX series of exercises commenced in January 2012 with a special focus on maritime security cooperation. (Image: Twitter/@indiannavy)
Indigenously-built stealth destroyer Chennai, Teg Class stealth frigate Tarkash and fleet tanker Deepak represented the Indian Navy in the exercise, an Indian Navy spokesperson said. (Image: Twitter/@indiannavy)
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force was represented by ships Kaga, an Izumo class helicopter destroyer and Ikazuchi, a guided-missile destroyer. (Image: Twitter/@indiannavy)
In addition to ships, a fleet of long-range maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters and fighter aircraft are also participating in the exercise. (Image: Twitter/@indiannavy)
India has significantly expanded its deployment in the Indian Ocean Region with a plethora of warships and submarines following the border row to send across a message to Beijing. (Image: Twitter/@indiannavy)
JIMEX-20 is being conducted in a “non-contact at-sea-only format. (Image: Twitter/@indiannavy)