US Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz Enters Indian Ocean For Exercises With Indian Navy

Jul 20, 2020

The PASSEX (passing exercise) comes close on the heels of other naval exercises, including Malabar, in which the two navies have been taking part to enhance their “interoperability”.

New Delhi: United States Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Nimitz has arrived in the Indian Ocean to take part in a naval exercise with Indian warships near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. USS Nimitz is leading a US carrier strike group to the Indian Ocean for the joint exercise with the Indian Navy, which is being held amid the ongoing border dispute between India and China.

The development is being seen by experts as a signal to Beijing amid its belligerent attitude being seen in the wider Asia-Pacific region.

The PASSEX (passing exercise) comes close on the heels of other naval exercises, including Malabar, in which the two navies have been taking part to enhance their “interoperability”, The Times of India reported.

USS Nimitz-led carrier strike group entered the Indian Ocean via the Malacca Strait on Saturday.

This came after two US carrier strike groups led by the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan respectively carried out an operational deployment and ‘freedom of navigation’ mission in the disputed South China Sea, over which China lays a majority 90 per cent claim.

As per details available, USS Nimitz and other similar carriers weigh around 100,000 tonnes and can carry around 90 fighter jets.

In the exercises off the A&N Islands, several Indian naval warships are taking part in the exercises. These include frigates and submarines as well. Naval assets from both the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) and the Eastern Naval Command (ANC) are taking part in the exercises.

The exercises also come on the back of India’s recent remarks on South China Sea, wherein it said the strategic waterways were part of the global commons.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told a press briefing last week: “South China Sea is a part of global commons. India has an abiding interest in peace and stability in the region.”

“We firmly stand for the freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce in these international waterways, in accordance with international law, notably UNCLOS,” he added.

Courtesy: Opera News