New Delhi, September 14. Ships of the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS) – INS Tir, ICGS Sarathi, and INS Shardul – departed from La Reunion and Port Louis on September 11 after a series of engagements aimed at boosting maritime cooperation and regional security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The visits, aligned with New Delhi’s MAHASAGAR vision for enhanced partnerships through training and capacity building, underscored India’s commitment to working closely with regional and extra-regional navies.
At La Reunion, INS Tir and ICGS Sarathi conducted bilateral exercises with the French Navy’s Floreal-class frigate FS Le Malin. The PASSEX included coordinated manoeuvres, navigation drills, and communication exercises. Harbour activities featured joint diving operations, cross-training, shipboard familiarisation, and professional exchanges. Trainees of 1TS also visited CROSS (Centre Regional Operationnel de Surveillance et de Sauvetage) and naval workshops, gaining operational insights. Yoga sessions, friendly sporting fixtures, and social exchanges further strengthened camaraderie between the two navies.
Meanwhile, in Port Louis, INS Shardul partnered with the Mauritius National Coast Guard (MNCG) in professional interactions such as diving operations, firefighting, damage-control drills, and shipboard visits. The ship also carried out joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance, a PASSEX, and cross-boarding exercises with MCGS Valiant. Alongside operational drills, cultural and community outreach programmes were organised, including yoga sessions, sports events, community service, and visits for schoolchildren, members of the Indian diaspora, and local citizens.
The simultaneous deployments in La Reunion and Mauritius reflect the Indian Navy’s enduring efforts to strengthen bridges of friendship and promote security cooperation in the wider IOR.
