INS Sahyadri Strengthens Maritime Ties with South Korea in Inaugural Bilateral Naval Exercise
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri arrived at Busan Naval Harbour, South Korea, on 13 October 2025, marking a significant milestone in India-Republic of Korea (RoK) maritime cooperation. The port call is part of INS Sahyadri’s ongoing operational deployment to the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific, underscoring India’s commitment to regional maritime engagement.
INS Sahyadri is an indigenously designed and constructed Shivalik-class guided missile stealth frigate, commissioned in 2012, exemplifying India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. The Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) extended a warm welcome, highlighting growing navy-to-navy interactions and the strategic partnership between India and South Korea.
The maiden IN-RoKN bilateral exercise includes a harbour phase with professional exchanges like cross-deck visits, sharing of best practices, cross-training sessions, and sports fixtures between Indian and South Korean naval personnel. The Commanding Officer of INS Sahyadri will call on senior RoKN officials and local dignitaries during the visit.
This harbour phase will be followed by a sea phase involving joint exercises with INS Sahyadri and ROKS Gyeongnam, focusing on enhancing interoperability and maritime cooperation between the two navies. Both nations recognize the importance of partnerships in the Indo-Pacific amid its rising geopolitical significance.
The navy-to-navy interactions between India and South Korea have grown significantly in recent years, reflecting their strategic partnership. The inaugural IN-RoKN bilateral exercise is the culmination of years of discussions and planning between the two navies.
INS Sahyadri’s deployment underscores India’s stature as a responsible maritime stakeholder and Preferred Security Partner. Based at Visakhapatnam under India’s Eastern Naval Command, INS Sahyadri has participated in several bilateral and multilateral exercises, showcasing India’s maritime capabilities.
The exercise reflects India’s efforts to bolster maritime security and regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a region of growing importance in global geopolitics.
