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PACIFIC OCEAN (April 10, 2011) The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and ships from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group and the Indian navy transit the Pacific Ocean during exercise Malabar 2011, a bilateral training operation with the Indian navy. Ronald Reagan is operating in the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin B. Gray/Released) >>
By Vivek Raghuvanshi
NEW DELHI — The annual Malabar naval exercise, regarded as a forum of Indo-US military friendship, will include Japan as a permanent participant in the Oct. 12-19 "Malabar 2015 " version off southern India. Japan participated in earlier Malabar exercises, but only as an invited observer.
"Japan's participation as a permanent participant in the Malabar exercise marks a turning point in the relationship between the navies of India, US and Japan in the region," says Nitin Mehta, a defense analyst here.
Japan participated in the Malabar exercise hosted by India in 2007, but after a strong reaction from China against the inclusion of Japan and Australia, the exercises became largely bilateral thereafter, although Japan did participate in 2014.
The Malabar exercises commenced in 1992.
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