Context:
Recently, the maiden Bilateral Maritime Exercise -Ayutthaya’ between the Indian Navy (IN) and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) was conducted.
Relevance:
GS III: Security Challenges
Exercise Ayutthaya: Strengthening Naval Collaboration Between India and Thailand
Significance of the Name:
- The bilateral exercise between India and Thailand is named ‘Ex-Ayutthaya,’ translating to ‘The Invincible One’ or ‘Undefeatable.’
- Symbolizes the historical and cultural ties between the two nations, referencing the significance of Ayodhya in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand, both ancient cities with rich legacies.
Participation of Indian Naval Ships:
- Indigenously built Indian Naval ships Kulish and IN LCU 56 actively participated in the inaugural edition of Exercise Ayutthaya.
- Marks a significant step in strengthening operational synergy between the two navies.
Exercise Complexity and Operational Synergy:
- Introduction of this Bilateral Exercise signifies the commitment of both navies to enhance operational synergy and progressively increase the complexity of joint exercises.
Activities during Maiden Edition:
- The maiden edition involved participating units from both navies engaging in surface and anti-air exercises, including weapon firing, seamanship evolutions, and tactical maneuvers.
- Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies participated in the Sea Phase of the exercise.
Coordinated Patrol and Regional Maritime Security:
- The 36th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) was conducted alongside the maiden bilateral exercise.
- Aligns with the Government of India’s vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), emphasizing regional maritime security.
Strong and Friendly Relations:
- The Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy have maintained a close and friendly relationship over the years.
- Collaborative engagements, such as Exercise Ayutthaya, contribute to the strengthening of maritime cooperation and security in the Indian Ocean Region.
