Rupal Kalebere<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Asia<\/p>\n\n\n\n
India\u2019s defence outreach in South Asia was marked by the successful conclusion of the 12th edition of SLINEX, the bilateral naval exercise with Sri Lanka. INS Rana and INS Jyoti joined Sri Lankan Naval Ships Sayura and Vijayabahu in Colombo, carrying out both harbour and sea phases. The harbour phase featured reciprocal training in firefighting, aviation operations, HADR, and cultural exchanges, while the sea phase tested interoperability through advanced gunnery firing, seamanship evolutions, VBSS operations, and fueling at sea. Indian naval personnel also paid tribute at the Indian Peace Keeping Force Memorial, honouring soldiers of the 1987\u20131990 mission. SLINEX 2025 deepened naval interoperability and underscored India\u2019s SAGAR vision (Security and Growth for All in the Region).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Southeast Asia<\/p>\n\n\n\n
India\u2019s engagement in Southeast Asia was particularly robust. The Eastern Fleet ships INS Delhi, Shakti, and Kiltan visited Manila, Philippines, underscoring the growing strategic convergence between the two nations. Bilateral maritime exercises with the Philippine Navy included anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine drills, while high-level meetings emphasized the shared commitment to a rules-based Indo-Pacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Singapore, INS Sandhayak, the first indigenously built Survey Vessel Large, made its maiden port call coinciding with Singapore\u2019s National Day. The visit advanced hydrographic cooperation under the Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR initiative, including technical exchanges, outreach to schoolchildren, and professional interaction with the Republic of Singapore Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indonesia too witnessed India\u2019s naval presence, as INS Kadmatt docked at Surabaya. The visit included professional exchanges, a combined yoga session, sports engagements, and diaspora interactions, reaffirming India\u2019s position as a preferred security partner under the vision of \u201cPartnership Across Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Vietnam, the 6th High-Level Meeting between the Indian Coast Guard and the Vietnam Coast Guard was held in Hanoi. Discussions emphasized maritime law enforcement, SAR, pollution response, and joint efforts against transnational crimes such as smuggling, trafficking, and illegal fishing. This meeting reflected both nations\u2019 growing institutional cooperation and operational trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
East Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Indian Navy expanded its reach into the wider Indo-Pacific through its presence in Papua New Guinea. INS Kadmatt participated in the 50th Independence Day celebrations at Port Moresby, joining the official parade and hosting the PNG Chief of Defence Forces onboard. The goodwill visit followed the momentum of Prime Minister Modi\u2019s 2023 visit and symbolized India\u2019s long-term commitment to engaging Pacific Island nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Europe and the Mediterranean<\/p>\n\n\n\n
INS Tamal, India\u2019s newest stealth frigate, featured prominently in India\u2019s European engagements. After commissioning in Russia on 1 July 2025, the vessel transited through multiple European ports. At Casablanca, Morocco, Tamal engaged with the Royal Moroccan Navy, conducted a Passage Exercise with Mohammed VI, and reinforced Indo-Moroccan naval relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Naples, Italy, Tamal participated in a PASSEX with ITS Trieste, while simultaneously celebrating India\u2019s Independence Day with naval and civil dignitaries. The ship\u2019s cultural events and bilateral discussions aligned with the India\u2013Italy Strategic Action Plan (2025\u20132029), strengthening cooperation under the Strategic Partnership elevated in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The frigate later visited Souda Bay, Greece, where its crew interacted with NATO institutions, the Hellenic Navy, and paid homage at the World War II cemetery in Crete. Exercises with HS Ritsos further validated interoperability, while cultural outreach cemented people-to-people links. These port calls reflected India\u2019s growing role in European maritime security and deepening partnerships in the Mediterranean basin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
West Asia and the Gulf<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Defence cooperation with West Asia advanced across multiple levels. The 7th meeting of the India\u2013Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation in New Delhi highlighted progress in implementing earlier decisions and explored new avenues, including training, cyber, IT, disaster management, and industrial partnerships. India offered to train Saudi armed forces and showcased its indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Complementing this institutional engagement, INS Tamal and INS Surat arrived at Jeddah, engaging with the Royal Saudi Naval Forces and Border Guards. Cultural exchanges and professional discussions further strengthened Indo\u2013Saudi naval ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Algeria, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi undertook an official visit, engaging with Algerian defence leadership and visiting military academies. The visit followed India\u2019s Defence Seminar in Algiers earlier in the month and laid groundwork for defence industrial cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indo-Pacific Multilateralism<\/p>\n\n\n\n
India also engaged in multilateral frameworks. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, attended the Chiefs of Defence Conference 2025 in Thailand, hosted by US Indo-Pacific Command and the Royal Thai Armed Forces. The discussions centered on maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber resilience, and HADR cooperation, reflecting India\u2019s commitment to multilateralism in the Indo-Pacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wider International Peace and Security<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond bilateral and regional cooperation, India\u2019s role in global peacekeeping was highlighted through the United Nations Women Military Officers Course 2025 (UNWMOC-2025) in New Delhi. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh addressed women officers from 15 countries, underlining India\u2019s commitment to gender parity in UN peacekeeping. The unveiling of the Platinum Jubilee edition, Blue Helmet Odyssey: 75 Years of Indian Peacekeeping<\/em>, showcased India\u2019s enduring contributions and leadership in this domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conclusion<\/p>\n\n\n\n India\u2019s defence diplomacy in August 2025 reflects a remarkable breadth and depth of global engagement, spanning South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, West Asia, Africa, Europe, and multilateral platforms in the Indo-Pacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Indian Navy continues to be the spearhead of India\u2019s international outreach, conducting goodwill visits, joint exercises, and high-level exchanges across geographies. The voyages of INS Tamal, in particular, symbolised India\u2019s expanding naval footprint in Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India\u2019s engagement in\u00a0West Asia and Africa\u00a0signaled an intent to diversify its strategic partnerships, while initiatives in\u00a0Southeast Asia and the Pacific\u00a0reinforced its position as a\u00a0net security provider\u00a0under the\u00a0Act East Policy\u00a0and\u00a0MAHASAGAR initiative. At the same time, India highlighted its leadership in\u00a0global peacekeeping and gender parity through the UNWMOC course, demonstrating both operational capacity and normative leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, India\u2019s August 2025 engagements demonstrate a multi-vector strategy: strengthening traditional partnerships, consolidating influence in Asia, deepening ties with Europe, broadening outreach to Africa and West Asia, and actively participating in multilateral frameworks. This portrays India as not just a regional power but an emerging global defence partner, combining naval outreach, defence industrial growth, and diplomatic initiatives to advance both its national interests and international security.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rupal Kalebere South Asia India’s defence outreach in South Asia was marked by the successful conclusion of the 12th edition of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[46],"tags":[905,900,265,204,643,289,898,901,904,903,908,907,899,902,906],"yoast_head":"\n