Indian and Indonesian naval officers and sailors posing before INS Sindhukesari during her Jakarta visit. (Photo: Indian Navy)
New Delhi: India has docked its Sindhughosh-class diesel-electric submarine INS Sindhukesari for the first time in Indonesia from February 22 to February 24. It is seen as a part of New Delhi’s diplomatic and military outreach programmes in the Asean nations.
It may be noted that Indonesia is one of the several countries in the region engaged in maritime disputes with China, especially in the South China Sea.
#BridgesofFriendship#IndianNavy's submarine #INSSindhukesari visited #Jakarta, Indonesia 22 - 24 Feb 23.
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) February 24, 2023
Highly enriching engagements with @_TNIAL_ conducted during port call, strengthening #maritime partnership b/n #India🇮🇳 & #Indonesia🇮🇩 towards safer & secure #IndoPacific. pic.twitter.com/yLwnJWTKDX
According to the Indian Navy, the submarine concluded the three-day visit to Indonesia, on Friday. Although Indian warships have been routinely visiting Asean countries on goodwill and security missions, including Indonesia, this was the first time a submarine was sent for such a visit.
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In a statement, it said the submarine’s visit was about strengthening maritime partnership between India and Indonesia towards a “safer and secure Indo-Pacific”.
The 3,000-tonne conventional diesel-electric submarine reached Jakarta port after crossing the nearby Sunda Strait.
In 2018, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, visited Jakarta, where he and the Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, had agreed to strengthen cooperation in all areas by establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership to take Indonesia and India’s bilateral relationship into a new era.
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In recent years, India has increased defence cooperation with Asean nations keeping in view China’s growing belligerence in the Indian Ocean Region and the Himalayas. Recently, a team of marines from the Philippines completed their training in using the shore-based anti-ship version of the BrahMos missile, which Manilla has struck a deal with New Delhi to purchase.
