VISAKHAPATNAM, India — The Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy began the fifth edition of their bilateral maritime exercise, Samudra Shakti 2025, in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday (October 14). The four-day drill, held from Oct. 14 to 17, was aimed at strengthening coordination and cooperation between the two naval forces.
Participating vessels include INS Kavaratti, an anti-submarine warfare corvette of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet, and the Indonesian Navy ship KRI John Lie, a corvette equipped with a helicopter. The Indonesian ship arrived in Visakhapatnam to a ceremonial welcome from the Eastern Naval Command, officials said.
The exercise began with a harbor phase featuring cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, joint yoga sessions, and friendly sports matches to build camaraderie between personnel from both navies.
The subsequent sea phase focused on complex maritime operations designed to enhance tactical interoperability. Planned drills include helicopter operations, air defense exercises, weapon firing, and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) maneuvers.
According to the Indian Navy, Samudra Shakti serves as a cornerstone of Indo-Indonesian naval cooperation, underscoring both nations’ shared commitment to regional peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
