ICGS Sarthak makes first port call in Kuwait to boost India-Kuwait maritime cooperation

New Delhi, December 9. Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarthak, an indigenously built offshore patrol vessel, docked at Suwaikh Port in Kuwait on December 9 as part of its ongoing overseas deployment to the Gulf. The maiden visit marks a significant step in India–Kuwait maritime engagement and reflects New Delhi’s broader SAGAR vision aimed at promoting regional security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean.

Over the four-day stay, the ship’s crew will participate in a series of professional exchanges with the Kuwait Coast Guard and other maritime agencies. The schedule includes high-level courtesy calls, interactions at key maritime facilities, and joint training sessions on marine pollution control, search-and-rescue operations and maritime law enforcement. Cultural engagements such as yoga sessions and friendly sporting events are also planned to strengthen people-to-people ties between the two forces.

The visit comes a year after India and Kuwait signed a defence cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark trip to the Gulf nation in December 2024. The agreement has laid the foundation for deeper defence and maritime collaboration under the expanding India–Kuwait strategic partnership. The port call by Sarthak is expected to reinforce these shared goals by enhancing interoperability and operational cooperation in maintaining safety and security in the Gulf’s busy sea lanes.

After completing its Kuwait leg, Sarthak will continue its deployment with scheduled stops in Iran and Saudi Arabia, part of a wider outreach aimed at strengthening India’s maritime engagement across West Asia and contributing to regional stability and capacity building.