Delhi/Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 01 September (HS): Indian Naval warships INS Tamal and INS Surat departed Jeddah on 30 August 2025 after successfully concluding a strategic port call marked by collaborative naval exercises and deepened bilateral engagement with the Royal Saudi Naval Force (RSNF). As part of their deployment, the ships conducted a Passage Exercise with RSNF Corvette HMS Jazan, exemplifying robust maritime cooperation in the critical Red Sea corridor.

The visit featured extensive interaction between Indian naval personnel and their Saudi counterparts, highlighted by spirited sports fixtures and personal exchanges that fostered camaraderie. On 28 August, the ships graciously hosted His Excellency Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia, underscoring the visit’s diplomatic significance.

Commanding Officers of INS Tamal and INS Surat held high-level discussions with Rear Admiral Mansour Bin Saud Al-Juaid, Western Fleet Commander of the RSNF, and Major General Fahad Bin Majid Al-Duajani, Commander of the Royal Saudi Border Guard in the Mecca region. Conversations centered on addressing non-traditional security threats in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean regions, with both parties endorsing enhanced joint operations and comprehensive information sharing.

Cultural diplomacy was a key feature, with INS Tamal hosting an onboard cultural program attended by senior Saudi officials, Embassy of India dignitaries, and prominent members of the Indian diaspora, further cementing people-to-people ties.

This successful engagement reinforces India’s unwavering commitment to bolstering defence collaboration and nurturing friendly relations with Saudi Arabia, while paving the way for future maritime cooperation and strategic dialogue between the two nations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar