In news- The Indian and Thai navies conducted a three-day coordinated patrol in the Andaman Sea.
About the exercise-
- This is the 31st edition of the India-Thailand coordinated patrol (CORPAT).
- The 1st edition took place in 2005.
- It is conducted in the backdrop of growing concern over China’s increasing maritime presence in the Indian Ocean region.
- The Indian Navy’s offshore patrol vessel INS Saryu and Thai ship Krabi along with Dornier maritime patrol aircraft from both navies participated.
- The two navies have been bi-annually undertaking CORPAT along their international maritime boundary line (IMBL) since 2005 with an aim to keep the vital part of the Indian Ocean safe and secure for global trade.
- The CORPAT builds up understanding and interoperability between navies and facilitates institution of measures to prevent and suppress unlawful activities like illegal unreported unregulated [IUU] fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.
- It helps enhance the operational synergy by exchange of information for prevention of smuggling, illegal immigration and for conduct of search and rescue operations at sea.
- The exercise is in sync with the government’s vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region).
Source: The Hindu
