India, Australia to kick off 2-day naval exercise in Indian Ocean

India is set to kick off a 2-day naval exercise with Australia in the eastern Indian Ocean. This constitutes some additional strategic signaling after similar exercises with the US and Japan in the region amid the ongoing military confrontation with China in Ladakh. The exercise will be held on Wednesday and Thursday. The exercise will also include helicopters from the two navies, while India will also deploy a P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft.