Dharma Guardian Exercise- International Relation Notes for UPSC Exam!

Dharma Guardian is an annual military exercise conducted in India since 2018. This bilateral exercise is conducted between the Indian and Japanese military. This exercise seeks to enhance the level of defense cooperation between the two armies.

Topics related to important current events, national security and international relations are often seen in the news, and the Dharma Guardian Exercise, in particular, is very important for the UPSC Civil Services exam under the syllabus of General Studies- 2 (GS – 2) paper and General Studies- 3 (GS – 3) paper. Questions related to bilateral exercises, foreign relations, and national security are frequently asked in the UPSC CSE Preliminary exam and the GS 2 and 3 papers. This Dharma Guardian article will help you prepare for the Prelims and the Mains paper of the UPSC IAS/IPS exam.

This article on Testbook will discuss in detail the basics of the exercise Dharma Guardian, its history, facts, figures, and the latest news, challenges, and importance. For further information and an explanation of the topic, visit UPSC CSE Coaching here!

Read about Exercise Nomadic Elephant here.

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About the Dharma Guardian Exercise

Exercise Dharma Guardian is an annual exercise between the Indian Army and the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force conducted in 2018. It seeks to enhance the expertise of both armies in counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism operations and boost bilateral relations.

• The exercise has been conducted in India since 2018.
• 2022 saw the third edition of this exercise.
• This exercise includes seeking expertise in counter insurgency in urban and semi-urban areas.
• Other areas include enhancing the tactical skills required to fight global terrorism.
• It improves interoperability between the two armies and promotes Army to Army relations.

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Recent Update

• The 4th edition of the joint military exercise "EX DHARMA GUARDIAN" is happening in Camp Imazu, Japan, from February 17 to March 2, 2023.
• This exercise is essential given the current global situation and security challenges faced by India and Japan.
• It involves platoon-level joint training in jungle and semi-urban/urban terrain.
• Troops from the Garhwal Rifles Regiment of the Indian Army and an Infantry Regiment from the Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) are participating.
• The exercise promotes inter-operability and sharing of experiences.
• It focuses on physical fitness, tactical drills, and UN Mandate operations.
• Activities include joint planning, tactical drills, and surveillance grid establishment.
• The exercise fosters camaraderie and situational awareness.
• It strengthens defense cooperation between the Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces.
• This enhances bilateral relations between India and Japan.

Source: PIB

Dharma Guardian Previous Exercises

Dharma Guardian Exercise 2018

• The exercise was the first ever joint military exercise under this initiative.
• The exercise was conducted between 01 November to 14 November 2018.
• The location of this exercise was Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte, Mizoram, India.
• 6/1 GORKHA RIFLES represented the Indian contingent, while the Japanese contingent was represented by 32 Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force.
• The theme of the exercise was to seek neutralization of likely threats that may be encountered in urban warfare scenarios.

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Dharma Guardian Exercise 2019

• The second edition of this series of exercises took place at Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte, Mizoram, India.
• The exercise took place between 19 Oct 2019 to 02 Nov 2019.
• 25 soldiers each from the Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces (JGSDF) took part in this exercise.
• The exercise aimed to share experience gained during various Counter Terrorism Operations in respective countries.
• Important lectures, demonstrations, and drills related to counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations were conducted during the exercise.

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Dharma Guardian Exercise 2022

• The third edition of the exercise commenced on 27 February 2022 and successfully culminated on 10 March 2022.
• The location of this exercise was Foreign Training Node, Belgaum.
• Indian Army’s 15th Battalion, the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, and the 30th Infantry Regiment of Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces (JGSDF) participated from the Japanese side.
• The exercise focused on operations in Jungle & Semi-Urban/Urban terrains.
• The primary aim of this exercise was intense joint military training, and it also provided a platform for professional and cultural learning and social interactions between the two countries.
• This widened the horizon towards knowledge and cooperation in different fields.

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Facts about Dharma Guardian Military Exercise

• The decision to undertake such an exercise was taken at the 2017 India-Japan summit.
• The exercise includes raids on terrorist hideouts in semi urban and urban terrain, unarmed combat & close quarter combat firing, and house interventions drills.
• The both sides jointly train, plan, and execute a series of well-developed tactical drills to neutralize possible threats.
• The exercise covers platoon level joint training on jungle and semi urban/urban terrain operations.
• Overall, the primary areas included in the exercise include training in counter-terrorism operations and planning and execution of a series of well developed tactical drills.
• The secondary areas include sports and cultural exchanges as well.
• Both contingents also share expertise on contemporary subjects of counter-terrorism operations like disruptive technologies such as drones and anti-drone weapons.

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Importance of Dharma Guardian exercise

• The exercise is significant regarding security challenges faced by both nations in the backdrop of global terrorism.
• It seeks to neutralize threats that are/may be encountered in urban warfare scenarios.
• It seeks to strengthen the ties between the two nations and hard power co-operation.
• The exercise enhances the interoperability between the armies of both nations.
• It also seeks demonstration of capabilities and acts as a platform to develop trust between the nations.
• The soft power is also enhanced via cultural meetings as well.
• This exercise also acts as a platform to assess weapons, equipment, and a display of technology that can be made available to allies.
• It assures critical supply of spares and accessories that could be guaranteed during a possible conflict.
• Japan is a strategic ally of India and shares common international level bodies like QUAD etc.
• India also holds other exercises with Japan, like MALABAR, which boosts the capabilities of our forces.
• This could be seen as a signal directed to China due to its attempting to create a unipolar Asia, and such exercises counterbalances the same.
• The exercise with Japan thus could act as strategic signaling. It serves the purpose of signaling to a third country the influence both countries have in the indo-pacific region and acts as a demonstration of our resolve to further our diplomatic objectives.
• This exercise leads to developing trust, comradery, demonstration of capabilities, and checking interoperability and familiarity between militaries.

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Criticisms

• Experts argue that such exercises do not provide any kind of long term solution to the problems faced in international relations.
• The exercise is of simple basic variety, which doesn’t provide any value addition to the Indian force.
• The bilateral exercise is periodical, while the army men and the participating platforms are not the same.
• By getting a new crew every time, the earlier lessons often must be re-learned from scratch.

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India-Japan Defence Cooperation

The relations between India and Japan have a long history and roots deep in the strong cultural and civilization spheres. Lately, India-Japan exchanges have strengthened due to growing convergence on strategic matters. India-Japan Defense and Security partnership forms an important part of bilateral ties. Its significance is growing from the common outlook on peace and security to the stability of the Indo-Pacific Region Asia and the world.

• A Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation (JDSC) between India and Japan was signed in 2008.
• A Memorandum of Defence Cooperation and Exchanges was signed 2014 between the countries.
• An Agreement concerning the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology Cooperation and an Agreement concerning Security Measures for the Protection of Classified Military information was signed in 2015.
• Implementing Arrangement for Deeper Cooperation between the Indian Navy and JMSDF was signed in 2018.
• The Agreement concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Indian Armed Forces (RPSS) was signed in 2020.
• Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2) has been regularly conducted between the nations.

2+2 Ministerial is the highest level diplomatic mechanism between the two countries. It is a format of dialogue where the defense/foreign ministers or secretaries meet with their counterparts from another country.

• Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) was signed in 2020, which seeks to enhance the strategic depth of bilateral security and defense cooperation.
• A Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Equipment and Technology Cooperation (DETC) was established whose decision was taken in 2014. Six meetings have been held so far.
• Both nations have started cooperative research in Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) and Robotics.
• Joint efforts of both public and private sectors are undertaken to strengthen the defense technological capabilities of the nations.
• India and Japan are members of various international organizations, Quad, G20, and G-4.
• Both nations share the same perspective on the Indo-Pacific where they seek to ensure free and open passage.
• India, Japan, and Australia launched the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) to counter China’s supply chain dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Other Military Exercises between India and Japan

JIMEX- Bilateral Naval Exercise

• JIMEX series of exercises commenced in January 2012, focusing on maritime security cooperation.
• It is biennially conducted between the Indian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
• The sixth edition of Japan India Maritime Exercise 2022 (JIMEX 22) was hosted by the Indian Navy in September 2022.
• JIMEX 22 involved two Phases: the exercises at sea and the harbor phase at Visakhapatnam.
• The exercise seeks to achieve a high degree of interoperability between the maritime forces of India and Japan through complex exercises in the surface, sub-surface, and air domains.
• It is a part of the effort to improve the safety and security of international shipping and trade in the Indo-Pacific region.
• The 2022 version of this exercise coincided with the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between India and Japan.
• It was also the tenth anniversary of this exercise.
• The exercise streamlines seamanship and communication procedures between the two countries.

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SHINYU Maitri- Bilateral Air Force Exercise

• This is a bilateral aero exercise between the Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) and Indian Air Force (IAF).
• The exercise aims to enhance Joint Mobility, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) and Tactical interoperability among the two forces.
• The first edition of this exercise was held on 03-07 Dec 2018.

Malabar- QUAD Naval Exercise

• Malabar Exercise started in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between India and US Navy.
• Thus, Japan joined Malabar, making it a trilateral naval exercise in 2015.
• In 2020, Australia joined to make it a quadrilateral exercise.
• The location of this exercise is in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean alternatively.
• This exercise aims to coordinate for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
• The exercise is significant as it tightens the strategic partnership of QUAD and keeps a check on growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.
• The 26th edition of this multinational exercise began on 15 November 2022.

Also, Read the article SIMBEX.

Sahayog-Kaijin

• This is a military exchange between Japan and India under an agreement signed by both countries in 2006.
• Under this exercise, Indian and Japanese Coast Guard personnel are trained.
• The Japanese Coast Guard Patrol Ship Echigo and Indian Coast Guard sent its ships and a vessel from the National Institute of Ocean Technology to participate.
• The exercise happens with personnel of both countries coming together on one of the vessels of either nation and then participating together.
• It aims to check the issue of trafficking piracy or other illegal activities in the coastal zones.
• It also ensures increasing the effective presence of both countries in the sea.
• It also ensures brilliant training, personnel to personnel relations between the two nations, along with cultural exchange.

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Way Forward

India and Japan are two powerful democratic forces in Asia who are looking for options to grow together and strengthen their defence in lieu of the uncertainties created by the declining America as a hegemon. Both need to work together for a stable Asia and a stable world. The partnership would also ensure checking on the growing Chinese assertiveness. With the center of the world order moving from the Atlantic to the Pacific in the 21st Century, it is pertinent that both nations work together in security related fields to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific and provide their vision of a multi-polar world is achieved.

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UPSC Previous Year Questions

Q1. The time has come for India and Japan to build a strong contemporary relationship, one involving global and strategic partnership that will have a great significance for Asia and the world.’ Comment. (UPSC CSE Mains 2019)

Q2. Economic ties between India and Japan, while growing in the recent years are still far below their potential. Elucidate the policy constraints which are inhibiting this growth. (UPSC CSE Mains 2013)

Q3. ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)’ is transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in present times – Discuss. (UPSC CSE Mains 2020)

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