India, Indonesia begin ‘Samudra Shakti-2025’ naval exercise in Visakhapatnam
New Delhi, October 15. The Indian and Indonesian navies have commenced the fifth edition of their bilateral maritime exercise, ‘Samudra Shakti-2025’, at Visakhapatnam. The four-day drill, being held from October 14 to 17, aims to bolster interoperability, mutual understanding, and cooperation between the two maritime forces.
The Indian Navy is represented by INS Kavaratti, an anti-submarine warfare corvette of the Eastern Fleet, while the Indonesian Navy is participating with KRI John Lie, a corvette equipped with an integral helicopter. The Indonesian vessel arrived at Visakhapatnam to a warm welcome from the Eastern Naval Command (ENC).
The harbour phase of the exercise includes a variety of professional and social activities such as cross-deck visits, joint yoga sessions, friendly sports fixtures, and subject matter expert exchanges to foster camaraderie and knowledge sharing.
The sea phase will feature advanced maritime operations, including helicopter manoeuvres, air defence and weapon firing drills, and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) exercises – all designed to enhance tactical coordination between the two navies.
‘Samudra Shakti’ has become a cornerstone of India-Indonesia naval cooperation, underscoring the shared commitment of both nations to maintaining peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.
