Chinese and Pakistani navies held weeklong drills in the Arabian Sea from November 12 to 17, 2023, just days after the Russian Pacific Fleet and Myanmar held their first maritime exercise in the Andaman Sea.
The drills included anti-submarine operations and joint maritime patrols.
The Chinese and Pakistani navies have been conducting regular joint exercises in recent years, as part of their growing defense ties.
The two countries also have a close economic relationship, with China being Pakistan’s largest trading partner.
The Russian and Myanmar navies’ exercise in the Andaman Sea was the first of its kind, and it was seen as a sign of Russia’s growing interest in the Indian Ocean region.
The Andaman Sea is a strategically important waterway, as it connects the Indian Ocean to the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea.
The exercises by the Chinese, Pakistani, Russian, and Myanmar navies have raised concerns in India, which sees them as a challenge to its security interests in the Indian Ocean region.
India has been responding by strengthening its own military ties with countries such as the United States and Japan.
The exercises are also seen as a sign of the growing competition between the United States and China for influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
The United States has been increasing its military presence in the region in recent years, as it seeks to counter China’s growing power.
The exercises are a reminder of the growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, and they are likely to have a significant impact on the security landscape in the region in the years to come.