The ships of the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS) – INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata, along with ICGS Sarathi made a port call at Belawan, Indonesia, on 20 Jan 2026. The squadron was accorded a warm welcome by the Indonesian Navy, marked by a ceremonial reception featuring traditional dance performance. The ships are presently on a training deployment to Southeast Asia.
During the port call, personnel from the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy will engage in a wide range of professional and social interactions, including cross-deck visits and joint training activities, aimed at enhancing interoperability and strengthening maritime cooperation. As part of the cultural exchange programme, joint yoga sessions, visits by school children, friendly sports fixtures and community outreach activities have also been scheduled.
The deployment of the First Training Squadron to Indonesia underscores India’s sustained engagement with Southeast Asian nations in consonance with its Act East Policy. It also reinforces the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) through regular naval interactions and training exchanges with member nations of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).
