- India sent INS Satpura and INS Delhi to participate in the first ever ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME 2023) scheduled in May 2023.
About ASEAN-India maritime exercise (AIME-2023)
- AIME-2023 is the first time India has been involved in exercises with the ASEAN though there have been exercises with ASEAN nations separately.
- The maiden exercise will be conducted off the coast of Singapore.
- The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Indian Navy (IN) are co-hosting the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise.
- With AIME-2023 India becomes the 4th ASEAN dialogue partner, after Russia, China and the US to hold the ASEAN+1 maritime exercise.
- Aim: Enhancing interoperability and exchange of best practices among participating navies.
About Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN):
- It is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten Southeast Asian countries.
- It was established in 1967 with the signing of the Bangkok declaration.
- Aim: To promote intergovernmental cooperation and facilitate economic, political, security, military, educational, and socio-cultural integration among its members and other Asian states.
- Members:
- Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand– original 5 members
- Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam- joined later.
- ASEAN Plus Three: It is a forum that functions as a coordinator of co-operation between the ASEAN and the three East Asian nations of China, South Korea, and Japan.
- ASEAN Plus Six: includes ASEAN Plus Three and India, Australia, and New Zealand.