Consider the following statements about Exercise LA PEROUSE, in which India participated in January 2025.
1.The Indian Navy participated in the 4th edition of the exercise with INS Mumbai, a guided missile destroyer.
2.The exercise was held in Indian territorial waters near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
3.India’s participation aligns with its SAGAR vision to promote maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
4.It is a bilateral naval exercise conducted exclusively between India and Indonesia.

Which of the above statements are correct?​

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (A) Only 1 and 3

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Correct: The Indian Navy took part in the 4th edition of Exercise La Perouse with the guided-missile destroyer INS Mumbai.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect: The exercise was not held in Indian territorial waters near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It was conducted in international sea lanes like the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok Straits.
• Statement 3 – Correct: India’s participation supports its SAGAR vision (Security and Growth for All in the Region), aimed at promoting maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
• Statement 4 – Incorrect: Exercise La Perouse is a multilateral naval exercise, not a bilateral one with Indonesia.

Information Booster:

• Exercise La Perouse is hosted by France to strengthen naval coordination and interoperability among like-minded nations.
• It provides opportunities for navies to practice joint operations, communication, and maritime security drills.
• The exercise enhances India’s strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, showcasing its role as a responsible maritime power.
• Other participants include United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and the UK, apart from India and France.
• It highlights the importance of freedom of navigation and adherence to the rules-based international order.

Additional Knowledge:

• INS Mumbai: A Delhi-class guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy.
• SAGAR Vision: Announced in 2015, focusing on security, stability, and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean region.
• Multilateral naval exercises improve strategic trust, navigation safety, and maritime domain awareness.