SIMBEX 2020: India-Singapore Naval Exercise

November 23, 2020

The Indian and Singapore Navy are to hold maritime exercise SIMBEX-20 in the Andaman Sea between November 23, 2020 and November 25, 2020. The exercise is being conducted between the countries since 1994. The exercise aims to enhance mutual inter-operability between the countries.

About the Exercise

The Indian Navy ships to participate in the exercise are destroyer Rana along with Chetak helicopter, corvettes Kamorta and Karmuk. Also, submarine Sindhuraj and P81 reconnaissance aircrafts are to participate in the exercise.

India-Singapore Defence Policy

In September 2020, India and Singapore held the 14^th Defence Policy Dialogue. It was held under revised India-Singapore Defence Cooperation Agreement that was signed in 2015. During the dialogue, the countries agreed to enhance security partnership.

Background

India and Singapore hold a strong long standing cultural, economic relation. Singapore is a part of Greater India.

Greater India

Greater India refers to the Indian subcontinent and the region surrounding India that has adopted Indian language and religions. These countries of Greater India are sanskritised. Greater India is also called “Akhand Bharat”. It comprises of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia and the coastal Asian countries of Indian Ocean.

India-Singapore Defence Relations

In 2003, the countries signed Defence Cooperation Agreement that allowed Singapore to conduct training on Indian soil.
In 2017, the countries signed Naval Cooperation Agreement that allowed both the countries to refuel, rearm and restock their ships in their military bases.
In 2018, India and Singapore signed bilateral agreement for Naval Cooperation that gave Indian Naval ships access to the Changi Naval Base. The Changi Naval base is located near the disputed South China sea.