INAUGURAL EDITION OF THE INDIA – REPUBLIC OF KOREA NAVY BILATERAL EXERCISE

IN NEWS: Inaugural Edition of the India – Republic of Korea Navy Bilateral Exercise

UPSC STYLE ANALYSIS

1. Context:
   The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri, during its operational deployment to the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific, made a port call at Busan Naval Harbour, South Korea, on 13 October 2025 to participate in the maiden India–Republic of Korea Navy (IN–RoKN) Bilateral Exercise.
2. Objective:
   • To strengthen Navy-to-Navy cooperation and enhance operational interoperability between the two nations.
   • To reinforce the strategic partnership between India and the Republic of Korea (RoK) in the Indo-Pacific region.
3. Participating Naval Units:
   • India: INS Sahyadri – a Shivalik Class Guided Missile Stealth Frigate, indigenously designed and constructed.
   • Republic of Korea: ROKS Gyeongnam – participating in joint exercises during the sea phase.
4. Exercise Phases:
   • Harbour Phase:
     • Reciprocal cross-deck visits, sharing of best practices, and cross-training sessions.
     • Sports fixtures and official interactions including a courtesy call by the Commanding Officer of INS Sahyadri on senior RoKN officials and local dignitaries.
   • Sea Phase:
     • Joint manoeuvres and operational exercises between INS Sahyadri and ROKS Gyeongnam to enhance maritime coordination.
5. Significance of the Exercise:
   • Marks the first-ever bilateral naval exercise between India and South Korea.
   • Strengthens the foundation for future maritime cooperation and strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific.
   • Reflects India’s proactive engagement as a “Preferred Security Partner” and responsible maritime stakeholder.
6. Geopolitical Context:
   • With the Indo-Pacific emerging as a crucial region for trade, connectivity, and strategic balance, both India and South Korea recognize the need for deeper cooperation.
   • The exercise signifies the growing convergence of interests in maintaining freedom of navigation, rule-based maritime order, and regional stability.

STATIC PART (RELEVANT FOR UPSC)

1. INS Sahyadri:
   • Type: Shivalik Class Guided Missile Stealth Frigate (Project 17).
   • Indigenously designed and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.
   • Commissioned: 2012.
   • Base: Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command (ENC).
   • Showcases India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence manufacturing.
2. Eastern Naval Command (ENC):
   • Headquarters: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
   • Responsible for maritime operations in the Bay of Bengal and parts of the Indo-Pacific.
3. Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN):
   • Responsible for South Korea’s maritime security and defence operations.
   • Engages in multilateral and bilateral exercises to promote regional maritime stability.
4. India–Republic of Korea Strategic Partnership:
   • Elevated to a Special Strategic Partnership in 2015.
   • Cooperation spans defence production, maritime security, trade, and technology.
   • Naval engagements like this exercise align with India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Vision.

Updated – 14 Oct 2025 ; 07:03 PM | PIB Delhi