Australia is keen on joining the Malabar trilateral naval exercises among India, Japan and the U.S., and has requested observer status at the upcoming edition, scheduled for July.

“Australia has requested that its military officers be allowed as observers during this year’s Malabar exercises,” a senior official told The Hindu.

While India is yet to take a call on Australia’s request, a senior defence official indicated that it is unlikely to be accepted. “Let us first strengthen the cooperation on the bilateral front,” the official said. A formal decision is expected shortly.

China frowns

Japan and the U.S. are keen on expanding the games to include Australia with officials from both countries specifically stating so on various occasions. However, India has been reluctant to antagonise China.

Australia had been a part of the exercises in 2007 . But a sharp response from China, which saw the joint exercises as a coalition against it, put an end to the quadrilateral format.

Meanwhile, the Initial Planning Conference (IPC) to work out specifics for the 21st edition of the exercises, which will take place close to Indian shores, will be held by April end and early May in Tokyo. “Usually the IPC happens in New Delhi but this time it is happening in Tokyo,” another official said.

Growing clout

The Malabar drills, which began in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between India and the U.S., has since grown in scope and complexity, acquiring considerable heft in recent times. In 2015, it was expanded into a trilateral format with the inclusion of Japan.