The fifth edition of the bilateral naval exercise Samudra Shakti between India and Indonesia began on October 14 in Visakhapatnam, hosted by the Indian Navy. The exercise, which is scheduled for four days, aims to strengthen maritime cooperation and operational interoperability between the two countries.
The drills include both professional engagements onshore and operational exercises at sea. The participating vessels include INS Kavaratti, an Eastern Fleet anti-submarine warfare corvette, and KRI John Lie, an Indonesian corvette carrying a helicopter. The Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command greeted the Indonesian warship warmly upon its arrival.
During the harbour phase, personnel from both navies participate in activities aimed at promoting professional interaction and camaraderie. These include cross-deck visits, joint yoga sessions, friendly sports matches, and exchanges under the Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) program.
The maritime phase will include complex, high-speed operations like helicopter manoeuvres, air defence drills, weapon firing exercises, and Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations. These drills aim to improve tactical cooperation and operational synergy. Samudra Shakti highlights India and Indonesia’s developing maritime collaboration, which reflects common interests in regional security, stability, and coordinated naval preparedness in the Indo-Pacific region.
