Indian Navy Joins 32nd SIMBEX Maritime Exercise

Indian Navy Joins 32nd SIMBEX Maritime Exercise

Why in the News ?

The Indian Navy will participate in the 32nd edition of SIMBEX (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise) in Singapore. The long-standing exercise enhances bilateral maritime cooperation, supports India’s SAGAR and Act East policy, and promotes regional maritime security and shared learning.

India-Singapore Maritime Collaboration:

• The 32nd SIMBEX will be hosted in Singapore between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy.
• It is among the longest uninterrupted naval drills India has conducted with any country.
• The exercise promotes regional maritime cooperation, particularly in light of piracy and non-state threats.
• India’s High Commissioner, Shilpak Ambule, highlighted its role in ensuring safe and free trade routes.
• The exercise follows India’s successful HADR and SAR operations in the Arabian Sea, which gained international appreciation.

Operational Deployment and Diplomacy:

• Indian Naval Ships INS Delhi, INS Satpura, INS Kiltan, and INS Shakti arrived in Singapore for SIMBEX.
• The ships are indigenously built and capable of modern naval warfare.
• The fleet is led by Rear Admiral Susheel Menon, Eastern Fleet Commander.
• The ships were warmly welcomed by the Singapore Navy and the Indian High Commission.
• Ambule also noted the success of the 2023 ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, co-hosted by Singapore, which focused on intelligence sharing and joint counterterror measures.