U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper welcomed Australia’s decision to participate in military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region together with India, Japan, and the United States.

Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne sent on Monday a letter to Australian Defense Minister Linda Reynolds, stating that the country accepted India’s invitation to join military Exercise MALABAR 2020 in November.

“The exercise will bring together four key regional defense partners India, Japan, the United States, and Australia,” Payne said in the letter, adding that it will contribute to enhancing regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and increase the capability of the Australian military.

The joint exercises will continue to build the strategic partnership between India and Australia which was formed based on the agreement made in June by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she added.

Reynolds, in a statement, said the exercises are “key to enhancing Australia’s maritime capabilities, building interoperability with our close partners, and demonstrating our collective resolve to support an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”