Indian Navy Expands Diplomatic Reach Through Extensive Naval Exercises Across Indo-Pacific
The Indian Navy has significantly expanded its diplomatic reach through a series of bilateral and multilateral naval exercises across the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and beyond in 2026. These engagements, which include SAMUDRA LAKSAMANA with Malaysia, SLINEX with Sri Lanka, the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) maritime security activity in the Philippines, the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026), VARUNA with France, and INDRA with Russia, demonstrate India's growing maritime outreach. The exercises focus on enhancing operational coordination, strengthening interoperability, and exchanging professional expertise through complex maneuvers, air operations, special forces drills, and humanitarian assistance scenarios. Notably, the INS Sahyadri, an Indian stealth frigate, participated in multiple exercises, including INDRA with Russia and MALABAR with the Quad nations (U.S., Japan, Australia), showcasing India's ability to engage with diverse partners while maintaining strategic autonomy...
