DHARMA GUARDIAN EXERCISE - DEFENCE AND SECURITY 
News: India-Japan
Army exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ gets under way 
What's in the news?
●       The
fourth edition of India-Japan bilateral
Army exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ began at Camp Imazu in Shiga province,
Japan.
●       Separately,
two Japanese Navy ships Uraga and Awaji made port call at Kochi from February
14 to 16.
Exercise Dharma Guardian:
●       It
is an annual military training event
between India and Japan.
●       Indian
Army troops from 2 Garhwal Rifles and an Infantry Regiment from the Middle Army
of the Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) are participating in the
exercise. 
●       The
joint exercise will enable the two armies to share best practices in tactics,
techniques and procedures of conducting tactical operations under a UN mandate,
in addition to developing inter-operability,
bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies.
●       During
the exercise, participants will engage in a variety of missions involving joint
planning, joint tactical drills, and basics of establishing integrated
surveillance grids, including employment of aerial assets.
Significance:
●       Military-to-military
cooperation and integration between the two has significantly gone up in recent
years.
●       It
is crucial and significant in terms of security challenges faced by both
nations in the backdrop of the current global situation.
Other Defence Exercises under India and Japan:
●       Veer Guardian
- Indian and Japanese Air Force Exercise. 
●       JIMEX
- India and Japan Maritime Exercise
●       Malabar Exercise
- Quad (India, Japan, USA and Australia) countries.
●       Exercise Sahyog Kaijin
- India and Japanese Coast guards.