Key Highlights
- Joint PASSEX manoeuvre with HTMS Huahin on 4 March 2025 sharpened interoperability between the Indian and Thai navies.
- High‑level dialogues between Capt Anshul Kishore and Vice Admiral Suwat Donsakul addressed regional security and future training frameworks.
- Cultural exchanges—including a yoga session, school ship tours, and a naval band performance—fostered people‑to‑people ties.
- Professional interactions across three vessels (INS Sujata, INS Shardul, ICGS Veera) deepened bilateral naval cooperation under India’s SAGAR initiative.
Detailed Insights
The Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS) conducted a multi‑day port call at Phuket Deep Sea Port, Thailand, where it coordinated tactical drills, knowledge‑sharing visits, and community outreach activities. The PASSEX exercise on 4 March featured synchronized maneuvering and an exchange of sea‑riders, demonstrating seamless command‑and‑control linkages. Subsequent bilateral meetings explored joint training pipelines, regional threat assessments, and maritime domain‑awareness initiatives. Shore‑based engagements saw trainees tour Phang‑na Naval Port and HTMS Krabi, while schoolchildren and local citizens were invited aboard the warships for guided tours. A combined yoga session and friendly sports matches reinforced cultural rapport, complemented by an Indian naval band concert on Patong Beach that attracted a diverse audience.
Key Concepts
- PASSEX (Passing Exercise): A standardized set of naval maneuvers performed by two fleets to test communication, navigation and tactical coordination.
- SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region): India’s strategic doctrine aimed at ensuring a secure, prosperous maritime neighborhood.
- Bilateral Naval Cooperation: Structured interaction between two countries’ naval forces encompassing training, exercises, and diplomatic engagements.