SITMEX-20

CONTEXT:

Recently, the second edition of the India, Thailand and Singapore trilateral Naval exercise SITMEX-20 concluded in the Andaman Sea.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

The Prime Minister of India, during his keynote address at Shangri-La Dialogue in June 2018 announced the conduct of a trilateral naval exercise between India, Singapore and Thailand.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri- La Dialogue is Asia’s premier defence summit. It was launched in 2002.
The first edition of Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise (SITMEX), hosted by Indian Navy, was conducted off Port Blair in September 2019. SITMEX is conducted annually.

OBJECTIVES:

The SITMEX series of exercises are conducted to enhance mutual interoperability and imbibing best practices between Indian Navy, Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Royal Thai Navy (RTN).
It also aims to strengthen mutual confidence and develop common understanding and procedures towards enhancing the overall maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
The exercise is in line with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.

2020 Edition: The 2020 edition of the exercise is being hosted by RSN (Singapore).

Other Military Exercises between India and Singapore: