Maiden Maritime Exercise Boosts India-Greece Ties
In the shimmering blue expanse of the Mediterranean Sea, a historic chapter unfolded as the Indian Navy and the Hellenic Navy joined forces for their inaugural bilateral maritime exercise, concluding on September 18, 2025. The successful conduct of this maiden naval exercise reflected the growing convergence of India and Greece on maritime security and cooperative engagement. Both nations share a commitment to ensuring safety, stability, and freedom of navigation in the global maritime commons, a priority in an era of evolving geopolitical challenges.
The exercise provided a platform for exchanging best practices, from tactical procedures to operational strategies, while fostering interoperability that could pave the way for future joint missions. Beyond the technical achievements, the professional rapport built between the Indian and Hellenic navies during these six days promises to strengthen bilateral defence ties for years to come.
This landmark event, spanning September 13 to 18, 2025, marked a significant step in deepening defence ties between India and Greece, two nations increasingly aligned in their commitment to maritime security. The exercise, structured in two phases—a harbour phase at Greece’s Salamis Naval Base from September 13 to 17 and a sea phase on September 17 and 18—brought together the Indian Navy’s guided missile stealth frigate, INS Trikand, and the Hellenic Navy’s Elli-class frigate, HS Themistokles, in a display of operational coordination and mutual respect.
The harbour phase laid the groundwork for collaboration through a series of professional and cultural engagements designed to foster trust and understanding. Sailors from both navies participated in cross-deck visits, allowing Indian and Greek personnel to explore each other’s ships, study their systems, and share insights on operational protocols. A pre-sail conference held onboard HS Themistokles set clear objectives for the sea phase, ensuring both sides were aligned on tactics and goals. A standout moment was the cultural exchange event hosted on INS Trikand, where India’s Ambassador to Greece, Rudrendra Tandon, joined Commodore Spyridon Mantis, Commander of Salamis Naval Base, along with senior Hellenic Navy officers and their families. The event featured presentations of Indian traditions, from music and cuisine to cultural artefacts, creating a warm atmosphere that strengthened interpersonal bonds between the two forces. Adding a touch of historical exploration, the Indian crew visited the Sacred Rock of Acropolis, immersing themselves in Greece’s ancient heritage and reinforcing the cultural bridge between the nations.
The sea phase shifted focus to operational rigor, with INS Trikand and HS Themistokles engaging in a series of complex maritime maneuvers over two days. Night-time Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations tested the navies’ ability to execute high-stakes boarding missions under low-visibility conditions, a critical skill for maritime security. Replenishment-at-sea exercises demonstrated logistical coordination, ensuring ships could sustain extended operations through seamless supply transfers. Joint Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) drills honed their capabilities to counter underwater threats, while coordinated gun firings showcased precision and tactical alignment. Cross-deck helicopter operations, involving the transfer of personnel and equipment between ships via rotary-wing aircraft, further underscored the navies’ interoperability. These exercises, conducted in the dynamic environment of the Mediterranean, validated the professional expertise of both forces and their ability to operate cohesively in challenging scenarios.
As INS Trikand sailed onward for the next phase of its Mediterranean deployment, it carried forward the momentum of this collaboration, signalling India’s growing naval presence in strategic waters. This inaugural event not only showcased the operational synergy between two maritime powers but also laid a foundation for deeper collaboration in the Indo-Mediterranean corridor, where shared interests and mutual respect are steering the course ahead.
– global bihari bureau
