Warm Reception by Indonesian Navy
Upon arrival at Belawan Port, the Indian Navy ships were accorded a warm and ceremonial welcome by the Indonesian Navy. The reception featured traditional cultural performances, reflecting Indonesia’s rich heritage and the spirit of friendship between the two maritime neighbours.
Senior naval officials from both countries interacted during the welcoming ceremony, highlighting the importance of sustained naval engagement in promoting peace, stability, and shared prosperity in regional waters.
Joint Training and Professional Engagements
During the port call, personnel from the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy will participate in a wide range of professional interactions. These include cross-deck visits, subject matter exchanges, and joint training activities designed to enhance mutual understanding and operational synergy.
Such engagements allow sailors from both navies to share best practices, standard operating procedures, and lessons learned from maritime operations, contributing to improved interoperability during joint and multilateral missions.
Cultural Exchange and Community Outreach
Beyond professional engagements, the visit places strong emphasis on cultural exchange and community interaction. Joint yoga sessions, friendly sports fixtures, and visits by local school children aboard the Indian Navy ships have been planned as part of the programme.
These activities aim to foster goodwill and deepen people-to-people ties, especially among youth, by providing them an opportunity to interact with naval personnel and gain insight into maritime life and discipline.
Strengthening Act East Policy
The deployment of the First Training Squadron to Indonesia is in consonance with India’s Act East Policy, which prioritises closer political, economic, and security engagement with Southeast Asian nations. Maritime cooperation forms a key pillar of this policy, given the strategic importance of sea lanes in the region.
Indonesia, as a leading maritime nation and a crucial partner in the Indo-Pacific, plays a vital role in ensuring freedom of navigation and regional stability.
Advancing MAHASAGAR Vision
The visit also reinforces India’s MAHASAGAR vision—Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. Through regular naval exchanges, training deployments, and coordinated activities, India continues to contribute constructively to collective maritime security.
The interaction aligns with the objectives of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), of which both India and Indonesia are active members, promoting cooperative solutions to common maritime challenges.
Training Mission with Strategic Purpose
For the officer trainees embarked on the First Training Squadron, the deployment offers invaluable exposure to international maritime operations, diplomacy, and cross-cultural engagement. Such missions play a crucial role in shaping future naval leaders with a global outlook.
The Indian Navy has consistently used overseas training deployments as instruments of soft power, demonstrating professionalism while building lasting partnerships with friendly foreign navies.
