India, South Korea launch first-ever bilateral naval exercise

India, South Korea Launch First-Ever Bilateral Naval Exercise

Key Points:

1. Overview of the Exercise:
   • The first-ever bilateral naval exercise between India and South Korea commenced at the Busan Naval Base in South Korea.
   • The exercise marks a new milestone in the strategic and defence partnership between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN).
   • It aims to enhance interoperability, mutual understanding, and maritime cooperation between the two nations.
2. Indian Participation – INS Sahyadri:
   • INS Sahyadri, an indigenously designed and built Shivalik-class stealth frigate, represents India in the exercise.
   • The ship, commissioned in 2012, is part of the Eastern Fleet under the Eastern Naval Command, based in Visakhapatnam.
   • Its participation underlines India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and commitment to regional maritime security.
   • INS Sahyadri is currently deployed in the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific region on an operational mission.
3. Phases of the Exercise:
   • The exercise consists of two phases – Harbour Phase and Sea Phase.
     • Harbour Phase: Involves cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, best practice sharing, sports activities, and cross-training between personnel.
     • Sea Phase: Features complex maritime manoeuvres and joint operational exercises between INS Sahyadri and ROKS Gyeongnam, focusing on tactical coordination and synergy.
4. Strategic Context:
   • The exercise signifies the deepening maritime partnership between India and South Korea, built on shared democratic values, mutual trust, and common Indo-Pacific interests.
   • It reflects both nations’ commitment to ensuring peace, stability, and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
   • The collaboration aligns with India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), as well as South Korea’s New Southern Policy.
5. Geopolitical Importance:
   • The Indo-Pacific region’s growing strategic relevance underscores the need for joint maritime capability development.
   • India’s sustained deployments in the region reaffirm its role as a “Preferred Security Partner” and a responsible maritime stakeholder.
   • This inaugural exercise lays the foundation for future large-scale naval collaborations and multilateral maritime engagements involving both nations.

Static Data for Revision:

• Exercise Name: India–Republic of Korea Bilateral Naval Exercise (inaugural edition)
• Location: Busan Naval Base, Republic of Korea
• Indian Ship: INS Sahyadri (Shivalik-class stealth frigate, commissioned 2012)
• South Korean Ship: ROKS Gyeongnam
• Indian Naval Command: Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam
  
  Updated - 14th Oct 2025 ; 11: 20 PM  | DD News