PA/02/22 29 October 2022
Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022: Australia’s regional engagement activity to visit India
The Australian Defence Force’s flagship regional engagement activity, Indo-Pacific Endeavour, will see two ships, embarked helicopters, and around 1,500 personnel visit Vishakhapatnam, India from 30 October to 2 November 2022 (IPE22).
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell, said, “IPE22 supports the Australian Government’s commitment to an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific region. The activity will strengthen Australia’s engagement and partnerships with regional nations.”
This year’s IPE – the largest since the activity began in 2017 – will consolidate partnerships by visiting 14 countries, including India.
“India is an important strategic partner for Australia and has a critical role to play in the security and stability of the wider Indo-Pacific. IPE22 will pave the way for deeper and more sophisticated operational cooperation between our defence forces,” added Mr O’Farrell.
Coordinated by the Australian Defence Force, the activity will include military exercises, workshops, training, sporting events, and cultural activities with Indian armed forces partners. It will deepen cooperation on issues ranging from amphibious operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, to gender, peace and security.
Commodore Mal Wise AM, Commander IPE22 said, “I look forward to leading Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022 to make new relationships and strengthen our ties in the region. We plan to learn from our partners all the way from India to Indonesia.”
“Regional security is more than a military task. I am pleased that a range of government agencies are contributing to Indo-Pacific Endeavour as we work together to support a peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood,” Commodore Wise added.
IPE22 commenced in late September and will conduct activities with the Maldives, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia before the ships return to Australia by mid-December.
About IPE 2022
Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022 involves five ships, eleven helicopters, and around 1,800 personnel from all three services of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This includes HMA Ships Adelaide, Anzac, Arunta, Hobart and Stalwart, members of the Australian Army’s 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and Royal Australian Air Force air mobility aircraft.
Also participating this year are representatives from across the Australian government, including the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Australian defence industry and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
This is the first full-scale Indo-Pacific Endeavour since 2019. The activity was cancelled in 2020 and conducted through contactless activities in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.