Phase II of training exercise MALABAR kicked off Oct. 11 2021 with participating forces from the Indian Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force hosted by the U.S. Navy in the Bay of Bengal in order to strengthen quad-national interoperability.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the two countries should “do things that are conducive to regional peace and stability, instead of flexing their muscles.”
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, who is visiting Australia for talks on regional security and the Indo-Pacific region, described the base redevelopment as a "terrific opportunity."