The navies of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia have successfully completed the annual “Malabar-2025” multinational naval exercise, held from November 10 to 18 in the waters surrounding Guam Island in the Western Pacific.

Now in its 29th iteration, Malabar has evolved from a bilateral India–U.S. exercise into one of the premier operational-level training events for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) nations. This year’s edition focused on advanced joint operations in a remote maritime theater, emphasizing interoperability in contested environments far from home waters.

Throughout the nine-day exercise, participating forces practiced a wide spectrum of warfare areas, including:

• Anti-submarine warfare (ASW)
• Surface engagement and gunnery
• Tactical maneuvering and formation coordination
• Maritime patrol and reconnaissance
• Secure tactical data exchange
• Integrated fire-control management

Key assets deployed to the exercise included:

• Royal Australian Navy: Anzac-class frigate HMAS Ballarat (F154)
• Indian Navy: Shivalik-class stealth frigate INS Sahyadri (F49)
• Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force: Hyuga-class helicopter carrier JS Hyuga (DDH-181)
• United States Navy: Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62)

Supporting elements comprised P-8A Poseidon (U.S. Navy) and P-1 (Japan) maritime patrol aircraft, a U.S. Navy attack submarine, and specialist combat diver units from multiple nations.

The choice of Guam as the primary operating area underscored the strategic importance of the Second Island Chain and the ability of Quad navies to project and sustain power across vast distances in the Indo-Pacific. Conducting complex, multi-domain operations in a remote theater tested logistics, command-and-control, and real-time information sharing—capabilities widely regarded as essential for deterring potential threats to sea lines of communication and critical undersea infrastructure.

Malabar-2025 continues the steady expansion and sophistication of the exercise series. What began in 1992 as modest bilateral drills off India’s coast has transformed into a high-end, four-nation demonstration of collective maritime strength and political resolve. Recent iterations have increasingly incorporated advanced anti-submarine, air-defense, and information-warfare scenarios that mirror real-world challenges in the region.

While officially described as a routine training event aimed at enhancing interoperability and maritime security, the timing and location of Malabar-2025 send a clear message about the Quad’s growing operational cohesion and readiness to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific.