India rejects Aust bid for Malabar drills

Australia won't be invited to participate in the Malabar naval exercises along with India, the United States and Japan.

A spokesman for Defence Minister Marise Payne confirmed the Australian Navy won't be involved in the drills slated for June in Guam.

In 2007, Australia sent ships to Exercise Malabar.

But then the Rudd Labor government abruptly withdrew from a security forum involving the four countries, after concerns were expressed by China.

The Turnbull government has sought to rejoin the club and officials from the four countries met last year to discuss reviving the forum.

It's believed Australia's decision to pull out a decade ago continues to spark wariness in New Delhi.