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The first-ever India–South Korea bilateral naval exercise is underway in full swing at Busan, marking a significant milestone in the growing maritime partnership between New Delhi and Seoul. Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri, an indigenously built stealth frigate, arrived at Busan Naval Harbour on October 13 to participate in the exercise alongside the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) ship Gyeongnam.
The maiden exercise, comprising both harbour and sea phases, aims to enhance interoperability, mutual understanding, and operational coordination between the two navies. The harbour phase features cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, and friendly sporting events, while senior officers from both sides are holding official interactions. The sea phase will include joint maritime operations and tactical manoeuvres designed to strengthen maritime domain awareness and collaborative response capabilities.
Strategic Significance: A New Chapter in Indo-Pacific Cooperation
It is the first full-scale bilateral naval exercise between India and South Korea, an important step reflecting the two nations’ shared commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific. The region has become increasingly dynamic amid shifting geopolitical trends, and both navies view close cooperation as essential to ensuring secure sea lanes and a rules-based maritime order.
INS Sahyadri: Showcasing India’s Indigenous Strength
INS Sahyadri (F49), a Shivalik-class multi-role stealth frigate built in India, is currently on deployment across the Indo-Pacific and South China Sea. Its presence in Busan underscores India’s sustained regional engagement and operational reach under the ‘Act East Policy’. The ship, based at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command, has been a regular participant in multinational exercises and humanitarian missions, reflecting India’s growing role as a net security provider in the region.
Deepening Defence Partnership
Defence cooperation between India and South Korea has evolved steadily since the early 2000s. The 2005 defence industry and logistics agreement and the 2006 coast guard cooperation pact laid the foundation for practical collaboration. In 2019, both nations signed a military logistics support agreement enabling reciprocal access to each other’s bases, facilitating joint operations and replenishment across extended maritime zones.
As South Korea expands its defence exports and India pursues self-reliance under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the two countries are finding new synergies in equipment development, joint production, and defence R&D.
Looking Ahead: Technology and Security Convergence
Beyond the naval domain, India and South Korea are exploring cooperation in emerging areas such as defence technology, cybersecurity, and maritime surveillance. South Korea’s technological prowess complements India’s growing defence manufacturing base, paving the way for future co-development initiatives.
Both nations also share common concerns about non-traditional security threats, including terrorism, cyberattacks, and space-based challenges, making this evolving partnership increasingly comprehensive.
The Busan exercise thus marks not just the beginning of a new operational partnership at sea, but also the next step in a broader strategic alignment between two Indo-Pacific democracies committed to ensuring a stable and secure maritime order.
Team BharatShakti
