♦ The naval fleet exercise Malabar-2024 was officially launched in Visakhapatnam, the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) on 9 October 2024. Navies from Australia, Japan, and the United States have joined the Indian Navy for this annual maritime exercise, which will take place both in harbour and at sea. This exercise is being held until 18 October 2024.

♦ The exercise aims to strengthen cooperation and security in the Indo-Pacific region. 

♦ MALABAR was initiated in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between India and the US, gained further traction as a significant maritime engagement, with Japan and Australia joining in subsequently.