Indian, US warships conduct maritime drills near Andaman and Nicobar Islands

New Delhi: Amid border standoff with China in Eastern Ladakh, Indian Navy's warships on MOnday conducted a maritime drill with a US Navy carrier strike group, led by USS Nimitz in the Indian Ocean region (IOR).The passage exercise involved a total of eight Indian and US warships, said an official.

"The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is transiting through IOR. During the passage, #IndianNavy units undertook Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with #USNavy. Indian Navy had also conducted similar PASSEXs with #JMSDF (Japan) and #FrenchNavy in recent past," the Indian Navy tweeted.

The Navy's Eastern Fleet, which had already been carrying out a five-day long exercise off the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, had also sent some of its ships to collaborate with the USS Nimitz.

While operating together, the US and Indian naval forces conducted high-end exercises designed to maximize training and interoperability, including air defence, the US 7th Fleet said in a statement.

It said the Nimitz carrier strike group's operations were designed to provide security throughout the region while building partnerships with friends and allies.The 7th Fleet is the largest of the US Navy's forward deployed fleets.

The Nimitz carrier strike group, consisting of flagship USS Nimitz, Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Sterett and USS Ralph Johnson took part in the drills. India was represented by INS Rana, INS Sahyadri, INS Shivalik and INS Kamorta.(UNI)