The inaugural India-South Korea naval bilateral exercise commenced on Monday at Busan Naval Base, marking a significant step in the expanding strategic partnership between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN).
INS Sahyadri, currently deployed in the South China Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific, arrived at Busan on October 13 to participate in the maiden exercise. The South Korean Navy provided a ceremonial welcome, reflecting the growing navy-to-navy cooperation between the two countries.
INS Sahyadri, a Shivalik-class stealth frigate commissioned in 2012 and indigenously designed, embodies India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision. The ship operates under the Eastern Fleet of the Eastern Naval Command, based in Visakhapatnam.
The exercise includes harbour and sea phases designed to boost interoperability, mutual understanding, and trust between the two navies.
During the harbour phase, personnel from India and South Korea will conduct cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, share best practices, participate in sports fixtures, and engage in cross-training sessions. The Commanding Officer of INS Sahyadri will also meet senior RoKN officials and local dignitaries.
The sea phase will feature complex joint manoeuvres and operational exercises between INS Sahyadri and ROKS Gyeongnam, enhancing tactical coordination and operational synergy.
With the Indo-Pacific region gaining increasing geopolitical importance, India and South Korea have emphasized the value of strong maritime partnerships rooted in shared interests and common values. This first bilateral exercise follows years of planning and dialogue between the two navies.
The Indian Navy’s ongoing operational deployment in the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific underscores India’s commitment as a responsible maritime stakeholder and its role as a “Preferred Security Partner” in the region.
This inaugural exercise is expected to lay the groundwork for more advanced and larger-scale naval engagements between India and South Korea in the future.
