US & India Naval joint exercise

Amid tension between India and China over the Ladakh border dispute in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed in Galwan on June 15.

In a sharp strategic indication to China, US carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz performed a "cooperative" exercise with 
Indian warships in the Indian Ocean on Monday.

The Times of India reported, PASSEX (passing exercise) comes close on the heels of other naval exercises, including Malabar, in which the two navies have been taking part to enhance their "interoperability".

“A passage exercise is normally undertaken whenever an opportunity arises, in contrast to pre-planned maritime drills. While the Malabar exercise will be conducted later this year, it is always good to exercise with like-minded navies and exchange best opportunities whenever there is a chance,” said naval affairs expert Captain DK Sharma (retd).

The Indian Navy is also ramping up its operational cooperation with many generous naval forces like the US Navy and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force in view of the fast-evolving regional security landscape.

The US Navy's Chief of Information Rear Admiral Charlie Brown said, "It is good to have friends. From Nimitz in the Indian Ocean to Exercise Sea Breeze in the Black Sea, the US Navy exercises with our professional counterparts in navies around the world. There is much we can accomplish together."

According to a few media reports, Australia may join the Malabar exercise, which is a trilateral naval exercise involving India, the US, and Japan as permanent partners. The Malabar exercise is expected to take place later this year.