ADF’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023 begins

Australia’s flagship regional engagement activity, Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE) 2023, commenced this week in India and will visit 14 countries over the next four months.

CAPTION: Royal Australian Air Force Flying Officer Harrison Mash coordinates a surveillance and reconnaissance bi-lateral training mission on board a RAAF P-8A Poseidon during a flight in Tamil Nadu, India, at the beginning of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 23. Photo by Corporal Robert Whitmore.

IPE supports the Australian’s focus on deepening our diplomatic and defence partnerships across south-east Asia and the north-east Indian Ocean.

IPE 2023 will conduct activities with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Thailand and Vietnam.

The first element of IPE 2023 will be joint maritime interoperability training between a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon and an Indian Navy P-8I Neptune in India.

This year’s IPE will include military exercises, workshops, training, sporting events, and cultural activities.

It will deepen cooperation on matters ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to gender, peace and security.

As part of IPE 2023, the Australian Defence Force and Armed Forces of the Philippines will participate in Exercise Alon for the first time.

Exercise Alon involves an Australian and Philippines joint bilateral amphibious activity and will include complex air, land and maritime training.

Royal Australian Navy ships, Australian Army detachments and RAAF aircraft will also support exercises and engagement activities, sharing information and providing training opportunities throughout IPE 2023.

Other agencies will also contribute to a range of activities, reflecting Australia’s whole-of-government commitment to regional stability and security.

Australia’s Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said Indo-Pacific Endeavour demonstrated Defence’s commitment to investing in regional partnerships and the contribution it could make with partners to a peaceful, secure and prosperous region.

“It is another example of the Australian Defence Force’s efforts to encourage deep, sustained and effective engagement with our partners in south-east Asia and the north-east Indian Ocean,” Lieutenant General Bilton said.

“Exercise Alon is a significant activity that offers the opportunity for the Australian Defence Force to work closely with partner nations, increase interoperability and deepen people-to-people links to enhance defence cooperation.

“I thank all of the personnel deployed on Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023 and their families for their contribution and service.”

Commander IPE 2023 Air Commodore Tony McCormack said participants looked forward to working and training with their partners all the way from India in the west to the Philippines in the east over the next few months.

“The activities that are part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023 will build friendships and understanding,” Air Commodore McCormack said.

“This will ultimately make it easier for us to work together in support of regional security, stability and prosperity.”

 

 

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