The U.S., Indian, Japanese and Australian navies on Tuesday kicked off the Malabar 2020 naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal, bringing the four nations together for the annual drill for the first time in over a decade. Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS John McCain (DDG-56) is partaking in the exercise on behalf of the U.S. “Malabar provides an opportunity for like-minded navies, sharing a common vision of a more stable, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, to operate and train alongside one another,” Cmdr. Ryan Easterday, McCain’s commanding officer, said in a statement. “A collaborative approach toward regional security and stability is … Continue reading ‘The Quad’ Kicks Off Malabar 2020 Exercise in Bay of Bengal