5th Multinational Exercise LA PEROUSE 2025

1. From January 16 to 24, 2025, the navies of nine Indo-Pacific countries are participating in a joint naval exercise called La Perouse.  

1. Nine countries: Australia, Canada, United States of America, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, United Kingdom and Singapore.

• India is participating with the destroyer INS Mumbai,

2. This is the 5^th edition of the multinational naval exercise LA PEROUSE 2025.

• The 1^st edition of the La Perouse naval exercise was held in 2019 and conducted by the French Navy and involved the navies of Australia, Japan, the US, and France.

2. This 2025 exercise is hosted by France in the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok straits, which are important waterways connecting the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Malacca Strait	Sunda Strait	Lombok Strait
Connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) to the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).	Between the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia.	Between the islands of Bali and Lombok in Indonesia.
It lies between the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the west and peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand to the east.	It connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean.	It connects the Indian Ocean to the Bali Sea and separates the Java Sea from the Lombok Strait.
It is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world.	At its narrowest point, the Sunda Strait is about 24 kilometers wide.	About 35 kilometers wide.
Critical trade route, used for the transport of goods between East Asia, South Asia, and Europe. It also serves as a key passage for oil tankers.	Vital for regional maritime traffic, especially for ships traveling between the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.	The Lombok Strait is important for local shipping routes, particularly for the movement of goods and vessels traveling to and from the Indian Ocean.

Why Are These Straits Important?

1. The Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok straits are critical because:
   1. They serve as choke points for global maritime trade.
   2. They provide entry and exit into the Indian Ocean and are key to regional security.
2. These straits have become even more important for ensuring freedom of navigation and maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region because there is rise in China’s naval activities in these waters

Who was La Perouse ? Jean-François de Galaup, Comte de La Pérouse, was a famous French explorer. In 1785, he was chosen by King Louis XVI to lead an expedition around the world. He sailed with two ships, the Boussole and the Astrolabe, to complete the work of James Cook and explore trade routes in the Pacific. La Pérouse’s journey took him through South America, Easter Island, Hawaii, Alaska, California, Macao, the Philippines, and Australia. Unfortunately, his expedition ended tragically in the Solomon Islands in 1788.

Key Objectives of the LA PEROUSE 2025 Exercise

The main goals of the La Perouse exercise are:

1. Strengthening Maritime Safety: The exercise aims to improve coordination between the participating navies to better address maritime security challenges.
2. Improving Interoperability: The navies will train to work together smoothly during a maritime crisis, sharing information and coordinating actions effectively.
3. Tackling Maritime Risks: The straits are prone to various risks, such as:
   1. Maritime accidents
   2. Environmental hazards
   3. Illegal activities, like drug trafficking and piracy
   4. Natural disasters, such as tsunamis and earthquakes

Key Technology Used

1. A key feature of the exercise is the use of IORIS (Indian Ocean Region Information Sharing System) for real-time coordination.
   1. A communication system designed to help navies exchange important information in real-time.
2. This system will allow participating countries to work together seamlessly during a maritime crisis, enhancing their ability to respond quickly and effectively.

Bilateral Exercises Between India and France

Exercise Name	Type	Description
Shakti	Land	In May 2024, 7th edition of this Exercise held at Umroi, Meghalaya.
Varuna	Sea	22nd edition of this Exercise held from 02 - 04 Sep 24 in the Mediterranean Sea.
Garuda	Air	In November 2022, 7th edition of this Exercise concluded at Air Force Station in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur.

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