Indian and US Navies Team Up in the Indian Ocean

The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) operated alongside Indian Navy forces in the Indian Ocean on July 12. This joint maritime activity aimed to improve interoperability between the two major defense partners and highlighted their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Key Participants

The exercise included the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing 11, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118). From the Indian side, the guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam (D66) and replenishment ship INS Aditya (A59) participated.

Objectives

The focus was on enhancing shared maritime domain awareness, information sharing, replenishment and logistics interoperability, and combined air-to-air capabilities.

Statements

The Indian Navy stated, “Indian Navy ships INS Aditya and INS Visakhapatnam undertook Maritime Partnership Exercise with the US Naval Carrier Strike Group comprising US Navy ships USS Theodore Roosevelt & USS Daniel Inouye in the Arabian Sea on 12 July.”

Ongoing Collaborations

The Indian Navy routinely participates in multilateral exercises with the US Navy across the Pacific, including Southwest Asia and littoral Africa. They are also involved in leadership roles in the ongoing Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 exercise in Hawaii.

Additional Agreements

On April 6, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) signed the Master Shipyard Repair Agreement (MSRA) with the US Navy, facilitating the repair of US Naval vessels under Military Sealift Command in Cochin Shipyard.