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⚓ La Perouse Naval Exercise 2025
Strengthening Indo-Pacific Maritime Security through Multinational Naval Cooperation
The La Perouse 2025 naval exercise took place from January 16 to January 24, 2025. The first phase, focusing on the Malacca and Sunda Straits, occurred from January 16 to 20, while the second phase, centered on the Lombok Strait, ran from January 21 to 24.
🌊 Navigating Strategic Waters with Unity
In early 2025, nine Indo-Pacific nations, including India, participated in the La Perouse naval exercise hosted by France. Conducted in the strategic straits of Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok, this major naval event aimed to promote regional stability, enhance interoperability, and address rising maritime threats — particularly amid China’s expanding naval footprint 🌐.
🌍 Participating Nations & Contributions
The exercise featured a formidable coalition:
- 🇮🇳 India (INS Mumbai – Guided-Missile Destroyer)
- 🇫🇷 France (Host)
- 🇺🇸 United States
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇸🇬 Singapore
- 🇲🇾 Malaysia
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Each navy brought distinct capabilities to the table, collectively reinforcing maritime safety across the Indo-Pacific region.
🗺️ Strategic Importance of the Region
The Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok straits are critical maritime chokepoints:
- Facilitate global trade flows between the Indian and Pacific Oceans
- Vulnerable to piracy, accidents, smuggling, and environmental threats
- Serve as major arteries for energy transport and shipping
🔐 Securing these routes is essential for global economic stability and regional peace.
📡 Enhancing Interoperability via IORIS
A highlight of the exercise was the use of IORIS (Indo-Pacific Information Sharing platform):
- Enabled real-time coordination between navies
- Facilitated rapid response during simulated crises
- Strengthened maritime domain awareness and decision-making speed 🛰️
🛡️ Multi-Domain Naval Drills
The exercise featured complex, high-stakes operations, including:
- Surface warfare & air defence drills
- Anti-air warfare and VBSS operations (Visit, Board, Search & Seizure)
- Interdiction of vessels suspected of illicit activities (e.g., trafficking, piracy)
These drills are vital for tactical synergy and combating non-traditional threats at sea.
⚓ Naval Diplomacy and Preceding Engagements
Before La Perouse:
- The French Carrier Strike Group visited Goa and Kochi for port calls
- Participated in the 42nd edition of Varuna, a bilateral Indo-French naval exercise
- These interactions helped lay the groundwork for deeper operational trust and collaboration 🇮🇳🤝🇫🇷
🌐 Significance for Regional Order
The La Perouse 2025 exercise reaffirms the participating nations’ shared commitment to:
- Upholding a rules-based maritime order
- Countering unilateral actions in the Indo-Pacific
- Safeguarding freedom of navigation and promoting peaceful trade routes
🤝 It sends a clear message — collaborative naval power is key to maintaining peace and stability in one of the world’s most geopolitically significant regions.