SITMEX-2021:
The third edition of the trilateral naval exercise Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise (SITMEX) has been conducted in the Andaman Sea of the Indian Ocean.
- It is conducted annually, and was announced by India at Shangri-La Dialogue in June 2018.
- The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia’s premier defence summit. It was launched in 2002.
- The first edition of SITMEX was hosted by the Indian Navy, and was conducted off Port Blair in September 2019.
- Singapore hosted the second edition of the exercise in November 2020. The 2021 edition of the exercise is being hosted byThailand.
- It includes a number of tactical training drills such as naval manoeuvres and surface warfare exercises.
- It aims to strengthen mutual confidence and develop common understanding and procedures towards enhancing the overall maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
- The exercise is in line with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.
