India, Bangladesh Navies agree to institute Coordinated Patrol

India and Bangladesh Navies on June 24, 2018 agreed to institute a Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) as an annual exercise between both the Navies.

The first edition of CORPAT will be inaugurated by Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba during his visit to Bangladesh from June 24 to June 29, 2018. The visit is aimed at consolidating bilateral defence relations between India and Bangladesh and exploring new avenues for naval cooperation.

CORPAT between India, Bangladesh Navies

• The first edition of CORPAT will be held from June 27 to June 29, 2018.

• Four maritime patrol aircraft, two from the Bangladesh Navy and two from the Indian navy will participate in the CORPAT.

• Four frigates, two from the Bangladesh Navy, namely, BNS Abu Bakar and BNS Dhaleswari; and two from the Indian navy, namely, INS Satpura and INS Kadmatt, will join the CORPAT.

Significance

The commencement of CORPAT is major step towards enhanced operational interaction between the navies of the India and Bangladesh.

Naval cooperation between India and Bangladesh includes operational interactions through port calls, passage exercises along with capacity building, capability enhancement and training initiatives.

CORPAT, a part of Indian Navy’s initiative to widen overseas cooperation

• In last few years, the Indian Navy has expanded its assistance to countries in the region through material support, training, EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) surveillance, provisioning of platforms, hydrographic assistance, and joint exercises and offering slots in professional training courses.

• The Navy regularly conducts CORPATs with Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand.

• It also conducts EEZ surveillance of Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles on their request.