The Hindu reported on Tuesday that the annual multilateral Malabar naval exercises kick off today with the participation of the US, Indian, Japanese, and Australian navies.

The drills are set to begin as the International Fleet Review (IFR) and the 18th Western Naval Pacific Symposium (WPNS) both ended today.

The IFR was hosted by Japan for the first time in 20 years to commemorate its 70th anniversary.

The IFR, which was held on Sunday, had 13 countries attend the review, while the WPNS on Monday and Tuesday had the presence of 27 countries.

Among the attendees were Pakistan and South Korea.

China was offered to participate in the IFR but declined - instead attending the WPNS, of which it is a full member. 

Russia was likewise extended an invitation but was later retracted due to the conflict in Ukraine.

Quad countries- India, US, Japan and Australia to kick off II phase of this year’s Malabar naval exercise in Bay of Bengal today. II phase, to be held from Oct 12-15, will focus on advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare exercises, seamanship evolution and weapon firings. pic.twitter.com/imdUPRyML4

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) October 12, 2021

"Held IFR-2022 with the participation of naval vessels and aircraft from 13 countries. We will contribute to realise a ‘free and open ocean’ through confidence-building and friendship with the navies of the WPNS member-countries," the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) said.

The report states that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) conducted a series of multilateral search and rescue exercises with the participating navies with the intent to improve the JMSDF’s tactical capabilities and to promote mutual understanding with the participating navies.

India, China, and Pakistan have previously taken part in army drills, either hosted by Russia or by agreements under Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The report adds that this marks the first time where ties are warming up between South Korea and Japan.

Quite a progressive step for both countries which had visibly sour relations a few years prior. 

In 2018, Japan rejected an invitation to join a fleet review by South Korea after Tokyo was asked not to fly its national flag, and in 2019, Tokyo refused to invite South Korea to a planned fleet review.

Other navies that took part in the IFR include Australia, Brunei, Canada, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, and the US.

"We must be ready for those who violate rules and who would use force to trample on the peace and security of other nations," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a speech on the JMSDF helicopter carrier Izumo on Sunday.

"We will formulate a new national security strategy by year end and drastically strengthen our defence capabilities," he added.

Great to meet with Exercise Malabar partners Admiral Ryo Sakai, Admiral Hari Kumar and Admiral Mike Gilday in Japan today. #ExMalabar 2022 will provide all four nations an opportunity to enhance interoperability and cooperation between like-minded Navies 🇦🇺 🇯🇵 🇮🇳 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/eCIveYWdfN

— Chief of Navy Australia (@CN_Australia) November 5, 2022

This comes in light of heated relations with the DPRK which has carried out a series of missile tests in retribution for provocations by South Korea, which included recent joint drills with the US.

Pyongyang's recent launches which took place on November 2-3 comprised an intercontinental ballistic missile and one that allegedly landed within South Korean territory for the first time since the Korean War ended in 1953.

In response, the US and South Korea warned that the succession of launches could lead to a "nuclear test" by North Korea and have thus prolonged their largest-ever air force drills until Saturday.

As a South Korean Defense Ministry official reported to AFP, a US Air Force B-1B strategic bomber would participate on the last day of exercises, dubbed Vigilant Storm, which was scheduled from Monday to Friday this week. "B-1B is scheduled to participate in the afternoon training," the official said, without providing further details.

On November 6, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed to amp up the capacities and capabilities of the country's navy and military in a preventive measure to prepare for future and potential aggression.

On November 7, Pyongyang's military said the Vigilant Storm exercises were an "open provocation aimed at intentionally escalating the tension" and "a dangerous war drill of very high aggressive nature," the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. 

The DPRK added it has responded to South Korea and the US' war games by hitting key enemy targets in an exercise.

Vigilant Storm, the US and South Korea's six-day war games, ended on Saturday. It is the widest-scale military exercise of its kind, including 240 warplanes conducting 1,600 sorties.

Read more: DPRK fires 10 missiles towards Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea