Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri is currently participating in the multilateral Exercise Malabar-2025, hosted by the United States at Guam, a strategic military base in the Pacific. This exercise, running from November 10 to 18, encompasses various phases, starting with operational planning and discussions, and culminating in naval drills focusing on joint fleet operations, anti-submarine warfare, and aerial maneuvers. The significance of this year’s exercise is underscored by the participation of the navies from India, the US, Japan, and Australia, all of which operate compatible maritime surveillance platforms, enhancing their ability to respond to shared security challenges. Notably, this marks the first military engagement between India and the US since the recent signing of a new framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership, despite ongoing tensions in trade relations due to punitive tariffs imposed by the US. Exercise Malabar, which evolved from a bilateral initiative in 1992 to a multilateral platform, continues to be a crucial mechanism for strengthening cooperation among the Quad nations, particularly in light of increasing regional uncertainties.