World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Quad navies begin Malabar exercise off Japan
The navies of India, Japan, the United States and Australia began Malabar 2026 in waters off Japan’s Kanto region, near Tokyo.
India’s stealth frigate INS Sahyadri arrived at Yokosuka Naval Base to take part, alongside ships from the other navies.
The exercise runs through November 12 and includes training on responses to submarines and surface fleets.
Malabar began in 1992 as a training exercise between the U.S. and Indian navies, with Japan joining in 2007.
The four countries are using the drills to strengthen cooperation as they face a more complex security environment in the Indo-Pacific.
The programme includes planning and professional exchanges at port, followed by operations at sea.
The sea phase will bring INS Sahyadri together with ships from Japan, the U.S. and Australia for coordinated training.
The navies of India, Japan, the United States and Australia began the Malabar 2026 exercise in waters off Japan.
The exercise runs through November 12 and includes training on responses to submarines and surface fleets.
The four countries say the training aims to strengthen ties, operational coordination and maritime cooperation.
India’s INS Sahyadri arrived at Yokosuka Naval Base to take part in the exercise.
The exercise includes harbour and sea phases, with participating ships operating together at sea.
- Who
- The navies of India, Japan, the United States and Australia.
- What
- They began the Malabar 2026 joint naval exercise, including training involving submarines and surface fleets.
- When
- It began on Thursday, November 5, 2026, and runs through November 12.
- Where
- Waters off the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo, with events at Yokosuka Naval Base.
- Why
- The countries aim to strengthen ties and cooperation and improve operational coordination and interoperability.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Malabar began as a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Indian navies.
Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force joined the exercise.
The four countries began Malabar 2026 in waters off the Kanto region.
The exercise is scheduled to run through this date.
- Participants
- India, Japan, the United States and Australia
- Exercise dates
- November 5–12, 2026
- Location
- Waters off the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo
- Indian ship
- INS Sahyadri, an Indian Navy stealth frigate
- Training
- Responses to submarines and surface fleets
4 sources
What people are saying
The security environment in the Indo-Pacific region is becoming increasingly complex.
Cooperation with like-minded countries is more important than ever.