India, Japan and the United States have begun preparation for the next instalment of Exercise Malabar

Admiral John Richardson, the US Chief of Naval Operations, in India recently, met top government officials, including the Indian naval chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba.

New Delhi: The United States has called for closer naval cooperation with not just India but also "like-minded democracies" like Japan and France as China "was not playing by the rules," high-level government sources said. Admiral John Richardson, the US Chief of Naval Operations, in India recently, met top government officials, including the Indian naval chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba. 

It is clear, senior government officials said that the US is also concerned about China changing the status quo in the Indo-Pacific. Both India and the United States want "free, open and inclusive" seas. 

In the wake of the visit by Admiral Richardson, India, Japan, and the United States have begun preparation for the next instalment of Exercise Malabar, off Sasebo, in Japan in September. 

India is likely to send to warships (either a frigate or destroyer and a Corvette) and also, the P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft and also, marine commandos. There is an interest in Australia participating in the Malabar this year but no decision on that has been taken as yet.

India has already begun playing a larger role, increasing naval cooperation with other countries. The "group sail" with the navies of the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan recently is a case in point.