India and Indonesia will conclude their India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol today – Photo: The Economic Times

India and Indonesia are today concluding the 39th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT).

The coordinated patrol is a naval operation that was executed along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) from 15-16 December, and it will conclude with a debrief at Port Blair, in India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands. India and Indonesia have conducted the CORPATs biannually since 2002 to keep the Indian Ocean Region secure for commercial shipping, international trade and maritime activities. This is particularly pertinent as increased attention is drawn to the Indian Ocean region, particularly with the presence of the Chinese Navy in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Expect that China will increase its fleet presence in the Indian Ocean as a means to intimidate India and its naval partners, deterring them from maintaining a strong presence in the area. Expect also that India will retaliate in kind through increased cooperation with multilateral military alliances like the Quad, to engage more states in balancing China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean.