Marking a milestone in regional naval diplomacy, India’s pioneering Training Squadron docked at Changi Naval Base in Singapore on January 15. The group features INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata, alongside Coast Guard vessel Sarthi, as part of extended training operations in the Southeast Indian Ocean.
With 2026 designated as ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation Year, this visit underscores deepening strategic partnerships. Navies from both nations are conducting multifaceted programs to elevate operational readiness, secure sea lanes, and expand joint efforts. Highlights include officer-level training interchanges, synchronized yoga events, and friendly sports rivalries.
Cultural diplomacy shines through Indian Naval Band concerts at prominent sites, while school tours aboard the ships provide immersive experiences into military maritime life for young visitors.
India’s High Commissioner Dr. Shilpak Ambule personally welcomed the trainees and conferred with the Maritime Training and Doctrine Command’s leader. Information Fusion Centre experts contributed practical knowledge-sharing sessions.
Subsequent engagements encompassed civic interactions, RSN collaborations, facility inspections at the Information Fusion Centre and naval museum, sporting challenges, and support initiatives at nursing homes for the elderly. This outreach reinforces India’s Act East Policy, fortifying alliances with Southeast Asian maritime stakeholders.
In line with India’s influential role in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium and its comprehensive maritime outlook, the squadron’s journey continues to Indonesia and Thailand, advancing collective security objectives.