Washington, June 27: The world's largest multilateral naval exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) will begin today off Hawaii in the Western Pacific Ocean. The two-month long biennial exercise is likely to be attended by navies of 26 countries including India.
Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri has already reached the Pearl Harbour in Hawaii to participate in the 26th edition of RIMPAC exercise.
Known as the world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC this year involves 47 surface ships, five submarines, 18 national land forces, and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel.
The Navy in the statement said, INS Sahyadri, commanded by Captain Shantanu Jha, is a state-of-the-art indigenously built guided missile stealth frigate which is a part of the Eastern Fleet under the Eastern Naval Command.
It said India's participation in the exercise provides a platform for increased interoperability and development of a common understanding of procedures for maritime security operations.
The countries participating in the exercise include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom among others.
Four countries -- Brazil, Israel, Sri Lanka and Vietnam -- are participating in RIMPAC for the first time. The theme this year is "Capable, Adaptive, Partners." Participating nations and forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces, a media release from the US 3rd Fleet Public Affairs had said.
The U.S. military has disinvited China from participating in RIMPAC. Citing actions in the South China Sea that run counter to international norms and a pursuit of free and open seas, Department of Defense spokesman Marine Lt. Col. Christopher Logan had said the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) would not be participating in the exercise despite its participation in submarine safety and other non-war fighting components of the exercise in previous years.