Ships of the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS) — INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata, along with ICGS Sarathi — arrived at Phuket Deep Sea Port, Thailand, on 25 January 2026 as part of their ongoing training deployment to Southeast Asia. The vessels were accorded a warm ceremonial welcome by the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), accompanied by the ceremonial performance of the RTN Band.
The visit marks another milestone in the growing maritime partnership between India and Thailand, reflecting their shared commitment to regional security, stability and cooperation.
Port Call Gains Special Significance During ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation
The visit assumes added importance as 2026 is being celebrated as the ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation, highlighting the strategic convergence between India and Southeast Asian nations in ensuring a free, open and rules-based maritime order.
The presence of the Indian Navy’s training squadron reinforces India’s commitment to strengthening people-to-people and professional naval linkages across the Indo-Pacific region.
Wide-Ranging Professional and Training Engagements Planned
During the port call, personnel from the Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy will participate in a range of engagements designed to deepen interoperability and mutual understanding, including:
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Interactions with senior RTN leadership
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Professional exchanges between naval officers
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Joint yoga sessions
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Friendly sports fixtures
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Passage Exercise (PASSEX) at sea
These activities aim to enhance operational coordination, cultural bonding and maritime professionalism between the two navies.
Strong Bilateral Naval Cooperation Between India and Thailand
India and Thailand share a long-standing and steadily evolving naval partnership, strengthened through regular engagements and joint initiatives such as:
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Exercise Ayutthaya
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Indo–Thai Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT)
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SITMEX trilateral maritime exercise conducted last year
These exercises have significantly improved interoperability and trust among regional maritime forces. The Indian Navy also looks forward to building upon Thailand’s stewardship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) as India is set to assume the IONS Chair from Thailand in February 2026.
Advancing MAHASAGAR Vision and India’s Role as a Responsible Maritime Partner
The deployment aligns with the Government of India’s strategic vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). It reflects India’s consistent approach of constructive engagement, cooperative security and regional partnership across the Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific.
The visit further reinforces India’s image as a trusted maritime partner committed to stability, collaboration and collective growth.
Conclusion
The arrival of the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron at Phuket deepens India–Thailand maritime cooperation, strengthens regional naval ties and reaffirms India’s commitment to collaborative maritime security, capacity-building and regional stability under the MAHASAGAR framework.
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Source: PIB
