ASEAN India Maritime Exercise, AIME-2023

India has sent two warships to participate in the inaugural ASEAN-India maritime exercise (AIME-2023).

About AIME 2023:

• AIME-2023 is India’s first joint exercise with ASEAN, although it has held separate exercises with ASEAN countries in the past.
• AIME-2023 is the fourth ASEAN+1 maritime exercise to be held, following those by Russia, China, and the United States. 
• This exercise is aimed at enhancing cooperation and sharing of best practices among participating navies. 
• The harbor phase of the exercise will take place in Singapore’s Changi Naval Base from May 2nd to May 4th, 2023, and the sea phase will be held in the South China Sea from May 7th to May 8th, 2023. 
• The primary objective of AIME-2023 is to promote collaboration and seamless operations in the maritime domain between the Indian Navy and ASEAN navies. 
• The current Chief of the Indian Navy Admiral R. Hari Kumar is in Singapore to participate in the exercise as well as in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX-23) and the International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC) hosted by Singapore.

Indian Navy Warships participating in the AIME-2023:

• The Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet, which is stationed in Visakhapatnam, includes two warships:
  • INS Delhi, the country’s first domestically produced guided missile destroyer, and 
  • INS Satpura, an indigenous guided missile stealth frigate. 
• Both of these ships are equipped with advanced weaponry and sensors and operate under the operational control of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.

About ASEAN:

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organization consisting of ten Southeast Asian countries.
• The ten member countries of ASEAN are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• ASEAN was founded on August 8, 1967, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (also known as the Bangkok Declaration) by its founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
• The headquarters of ASEAN is in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• ASEAN has a population of over 650 million people and a combined GDP of approximately $3 trillion.
• The objectives of ASEAN are to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region; promote regional peace and stability; and enhance collaboration on common interests.
• ASEAN also aims to promote cooperation on a wide range of issues, including trade, investment, education, science and technology, environmental sustainability, and disaster management.
• ASEAN holds an annual summit attended by the heads of state or government of its member countries, as well as various other meetings and forums throughout the year.
• ASEAN has established strategic partnerships with various countries and organizations, including China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations.

Recent Developments in India-ASEAN Relations:

• In 2022, the first-ever India-ASEAN defense ministers’ meeting was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia to mark the 30th anniversary of India-ASEAN relations. 
• The year 2022 was also named the ‘ASEAN-India Friendship Year.’ 
• The ASEAN-India relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the ASEAN-India Summit in Cambodia in 2022. 
• During the special two-day ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, leaders agreed to work together to strengthen air and maritime connectivity and to enhance cooperation in defense. 
• Additionally, the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus meeting took place, which is a platform for ASEAN and eight Dialogue Partners to strengthen security and defense cooperation.

What is IMDEX?

• IMDEX is short for the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference, which is a biennial maritime defense event held in Singapore. 
• It is a platform for international navies, coastguards, and maritime agencies to showcase their latest technologies and innovations in maritime defense and security.
• The event provides an opportunity for defense industry players to network and exchange ideas on the latest developments in maritime technology, and for governments to discuss regional security issues. 
• IMDEX also hosts the International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC), which brings together global maritime security experts to discuss and share insights on key maritime security issues.
• IMDEX is regarded as one of the leading maritime defense events in the Asia-Pacific region and attracts high-level government officials, naval officers, industry leaders, and experts from around the world. 
• The event also includes live demonstrations of naval vessels and equipment, seminars, and panel discussions on various topics related to maritime security and defense.

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