India-Indonesia
India deepens Indo-Pacific Maritime outreach as INS Sahyadri, Kulish conclude naval exercise
Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish have concluded their participation in the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) 2026, held in the Philippines under the theme ‘Anchored in Trust, United at Sea’.
The exercise provided opportunities for professional interaction, operational coordination and maritime training through its Harbour and Sea Phases.
Following the opening ceremony, the Harbour Phase featured a series of engagements, including key leaders’ meetings, sporting events, yoga sessions, community interactions and subject matter expert exchanges.
A table-top exercise, operational synchronisation activities and a pre-sail brief facilitated coordination and preparations for the Sea Phase.
During the Sea Phase, INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish participated in coordinated maritime drills, including Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS), and underway replenishment exercises.
Helicopter operations included cross-deck landings, vertical replenishment and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) drills. These activities enhanced coordination and interoperability among the participating maritime forces, according to a statement issued by the Indian government.
The Harbour and Sea Phases of AIME 2026 reinforced mutual trust and strengthened interoperability, contributing to closer maritime partnerships among the participating countries.
The participation of INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish reaffirmed the Indian Navy’s commitment to engagement with partner maritime forces, in line with India’s Act East Policy and its vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
India’s maritime engagement with Indonesia also reflects the longstanding defence cooperation and partnership between the two countries. Diplomatic relations were established in 1951, while a formal agreement on defence cooperation was signed in 2001 and renewed in 2006.
The two countries further strengthened their defence ties by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Indonesia in 2018, according to a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Indonesia.
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