The (Ex) Washington Realist

Yesterday, I posted a note about the "southern democracies" and today I read in the Hindu about the start of joint naval exercises between India, Brazil and South Africa that are being conducted along the coast offshore from Cape Town. This is the first time military maneuvers have been undertaken under the aegis of the trilateral IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) forum.

First, given the nature of the exercises--dealing with terrorists and pirates--it is interesting as a demonstration as to how rising powers are beginning to take steps to ensure their own security rather than simply relying on the U.S. It is also important for what it signals about the interest of the "southern democracies" to work together and to develop independent capabilities.

A South African naval commander, Captain Charl Coetzee, is quoted as saying the exercises are designed to facilitate a "common understanding of interoperability" and to strengthen multilateral cohesion between the three powers.

An interesting development.