India – Thailand CORPAT Exercise begins

India and Thailand started 31st edition of Coordinated Patrols or CORPAT, with the aim of reinforcing maritime links between two countries and to keep Indian Ocean safe and secure for international trade.

CORPAT Exercise

This is the first biannual exercise in which Saryu, an indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel called Saryu from Indian Navy and His Majesty’s Thailand Ship (HTMS) Krabi along with Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies are participating.

Significance of CORPAT

CORPAT biannual exercise builds up understanding and interoperability between both the navies. It facilitates institution of measures to prevent & suppress unlawful activities such as Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, maritime terrorism, drug trafficking, armed robbery and piracy. It also helps in enhancing operational synergy by exchanging information to prevent smuggling, illegal immigration and to conduct SAR operations at sea.

SAGAR Vision

Under SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging through bilateral & multilateral exercises, joint exclusive economic zone surveillance & humanitarian assistance & disaster relief (HADR) operations and economic zone surveillance with countries in Indian Ocean Region to enhance regional maritime security.

India Thailand relation

Both the countries share friendly ties as both are members of Bay of Bengal grouping of seven countries which brings South Asian, Thailand and Myanmar from South East Asia under single platform.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2021