New Delhi, Sep 21. Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish arrived at Subic Bay in the Philippines on September 20 to participate in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Joint Cooperation Activity (JCA), as part of the Indian Navy’s ongoing operational deployment.
The ADMM-Plus JCA brings together maritime forces from ASEAN member states and the eight participating Plus countries for professional and operational engagements aimed at enhancing interoperability, promoting mutual understanding and strengthening cooperation in the maritime domain.
The participation of the two Indian warships is in line with India’s Act East Policy and its MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, reflecting New Delhi’s emphasis on multilateral maritime cooperation and engagement with regional partners.
During the deployment, Indian Navy personnel will interact with maritime forces from participating countries through professional exchanges and operational activities. The engagements are expected to contribute to a better understanding of common maritime challenges and enhance cooperation among the participating forces.
The visit also comes amid expanding maritime ties between India and the Philippines. The deployment provides an opportunity to deepen professional exchanges and maritime cooperation between the two countries, building on recent bilateral engagements and the establishment of the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership in August 2025.
The participation of INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish in the ADMM-Plus activity underscores India’s increasing engagement with multilateral maritime initiatives in the Indo-Pacific and its efforts to strengthen partnerships with regional countries.
