India South Korea hold inaugural naval exercise.
India and South Korea Naval Exercise: New Delhi, 14 October 2025 In a landmark move signalling deepening maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Navy and the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) commenced their first-ever bilateral naval exercise this week in Busan, South Korea. The initiative marks a significant step forward in India’s strategic outreach in East Asia and comes amid a flurry of similar naval collaborations with China’s maritime neighbours.
Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri, a Shivalik-class stealth frigate, arrived at Busan Naval Harbour on 13 October as part of its operational deployment to the South China Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific region. The indigenously built warship, commissioned in 2012 and based in Visakhapatnam, will participate in both harbour and sea phases of the exercise alongside South Korea’s ROKS Gyeongnam.
The harbour phase will include professional exchanges, cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, and training interactions, aimed at strengthening interoperability and mutual understanding. The Commanding Officer of INS Sahyadri is also scheduled to meet senior RoKN officials and local dignitaries. The sea phase will feature joint manoeuvres and coordinated operations between the two navies, showcasing a growing synergy based on shared maritime interests.
This inaugural exercise is the result of years of dialogue and growing trust between the two countries, both of which have increasingly recognised the centrality of the Indo-Pacific to their strategic calculus. The Indian Navy described the exercise as a culmination of a steadily expanding naval partnership and part of India’s broader role as a “Preferred Security Partner” in the region.
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Part of a Broader Strategic Posture
The India–South Korea exercise is the latest in a string of high-profile naval engagements by the Indian Navy with regional partners, underscoring New Delhi’s commitment to maintaining a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
In recent years, India has ramped up naval cooperation with several of China’s neighbours:
Japan: India and Japan regularly participate in the bilateral JIMEX (Japan-India Maritime Exercise), with the latest edition held in late 2024 in the Sea of Japan. The two navies focused on anti-submarine warfare and maritime domain awareness, reflecting their shared concerns over Chinese naval activity.
Australia: India and Australia have grown closer under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and are regular participants in the Malabar multilateral naval exercise alongside the U.S. and Japan. Additionally, the two countries conducted the bilateral AUSINDEX in 2024, focusing on high-end warfighting skills and interoperability.
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Philippines: In early 2025, India held a coordinated patrol (CORPAT) and a joint maritime exercise with the Philippine Navy in the South China Sea. The exercises were seen as a demonstration of solidarity amid rising regional tensions over maritime disputes involving China.
South Korea: Though India and South Korea have long maintained cordial defence ties, this week’s bilateral naval drill marks the formalisation of structured operational cooperation at sea. It also reflects the maturing of the India–South Korea Special Strategic Partnership announced in 2015.
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India South Korea hold inaugural naval exercise.
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Geopolitical Significance
The timing and location of the INS Sahyadri’s deployment are notable. Operating in the South China Sea—a region of increasing geopolitical friction—the Indian Navy’s presence signals India’s resolve to assert its interests and uphold international maritime norms.
Defence analysts see this naval outreach as part of India’s larger Indo-Pacific strategy, which includes capacity-building among smaller nations, humanitarian assistance, and bolstering maritime domain awareness.
As India deepens its ties with like-minded countries in East and Southeast Asia, its Navy continues to be at the forefront of shaping regional security dynamics. The inaugural India–South Korea bilateral naval exercise is not just a military engagement—it is a strategic signal, reinforcing India’s commitment to collaborative security and a balanced maritime order in the Indo-Pacific.
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