Indian navy Vice Adm. Rajesh Pendharkar, center right, flag officer commanding-in-chief, Eastern Naval Command; speaks alongside Australian navy Rear Adm. Christopher Smith, left, commander of the Australian Fleet; U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Japan Self-Defense Force Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of staff of the Japan Joint Staff; during the opening ceremony for Exercise Malabar 2024 at Indian Navy Submarine Base Virbahu in Visakhapatnam, India, Oct. 9, 2024. Malabar 24 is a combined field training exercise with the Royal Australian Navy, Indian Navy, JMSDF and U.S. Navy participants. The exercise is designed to support achievement of strategic objectives by strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and promoting interoperability in the conduct of complex warfighting operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Greg Johnson)