Defence & SecurityImportant2025-10-28

Multilateral Naval Exercise Malabar 2025 Begins

Q: Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Exercise Malabar? 1. It originally began as a bilateral naval exercise between India and Japan in 1992. 2. Australia rejoined the exercise in 2020, solidifying the participation of all four Quad nations.

B. 2 only — Statement 1 is incorrect because Exercise Malabar began as a bilateral exercise between India and the United States, not Japan. Statement 2 is correct as Australia rejoined the exercise in 2020, completing the Quad naval grouping.

In News

What Happened

The 29th edition of the multilateral naval exercise Malabar commenced on October 28, 2025, in Guam, located in the Western Pacific. The exercise involved the maritime forces of the Quad nations - India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. The drills primarily focused on advanced anti-submarine warfare and complex air defence operations.

Why It Matters

This exercise reinforces India's commitment to maintaining a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. By enhancing interoperability with major global navies, it strengthens India's strategic maritime deterrence and secures critical sea lanes against emerging regional threats.

Background

History & Context

Exercise Malabar originally began as a bilateral naval drill between India and the United States in 1992. Japan became a permanent participant in 2015, elevating it to a trilateral format. Following growing strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific, Australia rejoined the exercise in 2020 after previously participating in 2007. This evolution reflects the growing institutionalization of the Quad framework in regional maritime security.

What Changed

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BEFORE: Initially a bilateral exercise focused on basic maritime maneuvers between India and the US. NOW: A robust quadrilateral exercise integrating advanced combat tactics, including complex anti-submarine warfare and air defence operations.
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BEFORE: Exercises were often limited to the Indian Ocean Region. NOW: The geographic scope has expanded to strategic chokepoints and territories like Guam in the Western Pacific, projecting combined naval strength further east.
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BEFORE: Information sharing and interoperability were at basic tactical levels. NOW: High-end integration using advanced secure communication protocols, ensuring real-time domain awareness among the four navies.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This event connects directly to Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 (Alternative Centres of Power) by illustrating how regional groupings and strategic alliances act as balancing forces in global politics. The Quad's evolution through exercises like Malabar demonstrates a modern alternative power structure aiming to ensure freedom of navigation and counter unilateral dominance in the Indo-Pacific construct.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Exercise Malabar? 1. It originally began as a bilateral naval exercise between India and Japan in 1992. 2. Australia rejoined the exercise in 2020, solidifying the participation of all four Quad nations.

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