"Sea Defenders-2024" U.S-India joint maritime exercise

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf has arrived in Port Blair, India to participate in the "Sea Defenders-2024" joint exercise with the Indian Coast Guard from March 9-10, 2024. This exercise reflects deepening U.S.-India strategic maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region aimed at enhancing maritime safety and security.

Objectives:

• Simulate responses to a variety of maritime threats like piracy, asymmetric attacks, search/rescue, firefighting, pollution, drug interdiction, medical evacuations.
• Improve operational synergy and readiness between U.S. and Indian coast guards to effectively collaborate on maritime challenges.
• Foster greater mutual understanding through combined training and operations.

Significance:

• Demonstrates the evolution of the U.S.-India maritime partnership through regular high-level interactions and cooperative engagements like the USCG Midgett's visit to Chennai in 2022.
• Highlights the Indian Coast Guard's role as a multi-mission force safeguarding India's maritime interests across its five regional commands.
• Promotes a rules-based maritime order and global security in the Indo-Pacific by combining efforts of the two nations.
• Allows sharing of expertise and capabilities between the world's pre-eminent coast guards.