The first naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Thailand Navy carried profound symbolism reflecting the importance of ‘Ayodhya’ in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand. The bilateral exercise -Ex Ayutthaya – was carried out on December 20 to 23. This nomenclature signifies the historical legacies, rich cultural ties, and shared historical narratives dating back centuries between Ayodhya in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand.
As per the Indian Navy’s statement, “the Indo-Thai Bilateral Exercise – ‘Ex-Ayutthaya,’ which literally translates to ‘The Invincible One’ or ‘Undefeatable’, symbolises the significance of two of the oldest cities, Ayodhya in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand, the historical legacies, rich cultural ties and shared historical narratives dating back to several centuries”.
In the inaugural edition of the exercise, the Indian Naval ships Kulish and IN LCU 56 engaged alongside His Thai Majesty’s Ship (HTMS) Prachuap Khiri Khan from the Royal Thai Navy, as stated. The event also witnessed the 36th edition of the India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) and the participation of Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both naval forces during the sea phase.
These collaborative efforts mark a significant stride in enhancing operational synergy and gradually elevating the complexity of joint exercises for both navies.
“During the maiden edition of the exercise, the participants from both navies conducted surface and anti-air exercises, including weapon firing, seamanship evolutions and tactical manoeuvres,” the statement said.
The Indian Navy has been proactively engaged with countries in the Indian Ocean Region to enhance regional maritime security as part of the Indian government’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region). “Meanwhile, the Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy have maintained a close and friendly relationship that has strengthened over the years,” the statement added.
The inaugural IN-RTN bilateral exercise, conducted alongside Indo-Thai CORPAT, serves as evidence of the burgeoning bilateral relations between the two maritime neighbours. This collaborative effort has notably enhanced interoperability between the Indian and Royal Thai Navies, asserted the statement.
Team BharatShakti
