♤ This has resulted in intensification in defence trade, joint exercises, personnel exchanges, collaboration and cooperation in maritime security and counter-piracy, and exchanges between each of the three services.

♤ Joint strategic vision statement for the Asia-Pacific and the Indian ocean region-2015: which called for “safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and over-flight” throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

♤ RIMAPC: The two countries now conduct more bilateral exercises with each other than they do with any other country. India participated in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in July-August 2016 for the second time with an Indian Naval Frigate. The two countries now conduct more bilateral exercises with each other than they do with any other country.

♤ Malabar Exercise-India-USA-Japan trilateral naval exercises. The annual Malabar exercise started in 1992 as a bilateral event between the navies of India and the United States. In 2015 Japan became a permanent participant in the Malabar exercises.

1.6.1. Expanding Scope of Defence Cooperation

♤ The agreements signed during the past two year include:

o Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Association (LEMOA) signed in August 2016,

o Fuel Exchange Agreement signed in November 2015,

o Technical Agreement (TA) on information sharing on White (merchant) Shipping signed in May 2016 and

o Information Exchange Annexe (IEA) on Aircraft Carrier Technologies signed in June 2016.