Hyderabad: The upgraded Quadrilateral Security Dialogue that met at the level of Foreign Ministers Of India, US, Japan and Australia along the UNGA sidelines in New York is not a military alliance underlines Captain (Retired) D K Sharma, who recently hung up his boots as spokesperson of the Indian Navy.
He also believes that the upcoming first joint tri-services exercise slated for November between India and the United States is a symbol of enhanced trust between the two countries.
Speaking to Senior Journalist Smita Sharma, he outlined how the Malabar exercise between India, Japan and the US has shaped up since its inception in the 90s and Australia not being included yet is not any worrisome concern. Neither are these exercises meant as stick-wielding for China.
The vital trilateral maritime exercise that concluded off the coast of Japan on Friday, saw participation by two frontline indigenously designed and built Indian Naval ships, INS Sahyadri and anti-submarine warfare Corvette Kiltan.
Boeing ‘P8I’ long-range maritime patrol aircraft, Japanese Izumo class helicopter carrier JS Kaga, guided-missile destroyers JS Samidare and Choukai and a ‘P1’ long-range maritime patrol aircraft also participated in the complex exercises focusing on anti-submarine warfare, anti-air and anti-surface firings and tactical maritime interdiction operations among others.
Excerpts from the interview:
How significant is the up-gradation of the Quad to the level of Foreign Ministers?
Captain (Retd) DK Sharma - The Quadrilateral security dialogue or construct is anything but the military as of now. I will say this with a lot of conviction because Malabar has added Japan. Now, this is India, Japan and the US. Japan has been added because the US base in Japan was being used for Malabar. Previously it was happening alternately, now it is a regular affair. With Australia, we have had three major bilaterals in 2014, 2016 and in 2019. This is a very complex exercise where we are putting the best of ships, submarines, long-range maritime patrol aircrafts to helicopters. We also exercise with Australia in a multilateral construct called RIMPAC- RIM of the Pacific Ocean exercise steered by the US.
Then, there is another HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) exercise Kakdu. Indian navy used to do Op Milan every two years. Australia has been part of it. As of now, Quad is everything but military.
What was the message from China during the 70th National Day military parade with its new weapon systems on display?
Captain (Retd) DK Sharma - It is a superpower and they have their ambitions. Whatever the inventory is we also proudly display. As far as the question of launching something that can reach someplace in 30 minutes is concerned, time will only tell. It is easier said than done. We are talking about countries that have the infrastructure in place. Should there be any adverse situation, there will be adequate warning. Countries have invested very heavily in the earning systems.
Is India looked at today as being in the US camp?
Captain (Retd) DK Sharma - We are non-aligned. We are only taking stance wherever we feel we are not being counted as a party to any particular camp. We have never joined any alliance against anyone.
The first Indo-US tri-services exercise, an outcome of the 2+2 dialogue will happen this year. How significant is it?
Captain (Retd) DK Sharma - It is happening in November. This is subject matter exchange, learning of best practices should there be a need tomorrow to work together we should not be found wanting. So all these exercises which India is doing with the US or any other country, at the end of the day there should be something to carry forward. You cannot lose time when the need comes. So we both practice, learn each other’s way of working, learn how to communicate as there is speech secrecy involved now. All these exercises only make life simpler.
How has the Malabar exercise shaped up over the years? What is the larger strategic messaging?
Captain (Retd) DK Sharma - It has almost been two decades since the start of Malabar. When the US started exercising with us the scale was a small one, some odd ships used to come. We cannot reciprocate the reach of the US forces which is omnipresent with 3rd, 5th, 7th fleet here. So Malabar exercise which was conceived of as an Indo-US bilateral in the 1990s has been ongoing since then. To be very clear we are not in any kind of alliance with them. We go as an independent country. We do our exercises and we have learnt a lot from them and vice versa.
It is a subject matter, expert exchange, exchange of best practices, and should there be a need to work together this ensures that you do not have to rediscover the wheel. Over the years we have gained confidence operating with each other and with the foundational agreements of LEMOA, CISMOA, the level of exercises and confidence which Indian and US Navy have developed is growing stronger. Now we are talking about aircrafts, carriers, Nuclear boats and our assets.
As the shift is happening towards Indo-PACOM our area of responsibility is increasing. Which means the US has more faith in us. They are shifting towards the South China Sea and they know the biggest power in this part of the world which has the expertise, the wherewithal, the assets. PM Modi has spoken about security and growth for all.
Similarly, we are talking as first responders and capacity building and capability enhancement for all in the region. We are not trying to wield the stick. We want the freedom of navigation, rules-based order and everyone is welcome here, so is the promotion of economics, sea lanes of communication should be free of pirates, gun-running, drug running and all.
Is there a larger message to China of containment?
Captain (Retd) DK Sharma - In 2008 piracy was taking shape and Indian Navy started sending a ship into the Gulf. 2012 onwards Chinese PLA ships were also coming in groups of 4-5. They started sending submarines also. Everyone knows submarines were not there for anti-piracy Ops. They are mapping our waters.
So if you have to hunt for the submarine you need to have data that will throw up some answers and then you start using your assets to gainfully find out where the enemy could be. So if this is anti-piracy, then we need all the forces who believe in freedom of seas. These are all the global commons that are used for trade among others. But if people are doing this in your backwaters then you have serious objections. In the SCS they are claiming the whole of it with smaller littoral shown the door. But should there be a situation we need to be in sync with other people following a straight path.
What is the biggest challenge for India in the Indian Ocean?
Captain (Retd) DK Sharma - We have no challenge. We are the biggest power here and we have a good number of assets and the technology so that we have a very good sense of the maritime domain awareness.
In the last few years, should there be a tragedy, cyclone or earthquake, the Indian Navy is the first responder because of the virtue of your positioning. In the Indian Ocean Region, you are the only landmass which is jutting out. So whether it is a problem in Maldives, Srilanka, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Bangladesh or Myanmar, we are always there for these countries that do not have these kind of assets. We have no nefarious designs. We do not go and take over things. The Chinese debt trap is not our idea of working.
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