Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet Arrives in Singapore to Boost Maritime Ties

In a significant demonstration of India’s commitment to maritime diplomacy and regional security cooperation, four Indian Naval Ships — INS Delhi, INS Satpura, INS Shakti, and INS Kiltan — arrived at Singapore Port as part of the Indian Navy’s Operational Deployment to Southeast Asia. The task force is being led by Rear Admiral Susheel Menon, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF).

The ships were accorded a ceremonial welcome by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and officials from the High Commission of India in Singapore, reaffirming the deep-rooted friendship and mutual respect between the two maritime nations.

Strengthening Indo-Singapore Naval Relations

The port visit aims to enhance interoperability, professional collaboration, and strategic maritime ties between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy, who share a relationship spanning over three decades.

“The presence of the Eastern Fleet in Singapore marks another chapter in the ongoing maritime engagement between India and Singapore — a partnership grounded in shared strategic interests, democratic values, and a mutual vision for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific,” stated an Indian Navy spokesperson.

The visit will include:

• Professional exchanges and operational discussions with RSN officers

• Shore-based interactions, including ship visits by Singaporean personnel

• Academic engagements with maritime scholars and think tanks

• Community outreach events organized by the Indian High Commission

A Legacy of Collaboration at Sea

The Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy have built a robust relationship based on operational coordination, mutual training arrangements, and strategic convergence. Their cooperation has been institutionalized through:

• Annual bilateral exercises like SIMBEX (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise)

• White Shipping Information Exchange

• Maritime Security Dialogue

• Joint Working Groups under the India-Singapore Defence Cooperation Agreement

The regular conduct of reciprocal port calls, personnel exchanges, and shared maritime domain awareness initiatives have further elevated this partnership in the Indo-Pacific security architecture.

Eastern Fleet’s Deployment: Projecting Presence and Partnerships

The current visit to Singapore is part of the Eastern Fleet’s broader operational deployment to Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, reinforcing India’s maritime engagement with friendly nations in the region.

The deployment aims to:

• Enhance regional maritime security

• Build domain awareness

• Strengthen multilateral cooperation

• Promote ‘Act East’ and ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’ policies of the Government of India

Such forward deployments showcase the Indian Navy’s operational readiness and strategic outreach to promote peace, stability, and maritime good order in critical sea lanes of the Indo-Pacific.

Meet the Ships of the Task Group

• INS Delhi: India’s first indigenously built guided-missile destroyer, capable of long-range engagements and multi-role operations.

• INS Satpura: A stealth frigate equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and weapons systems.

• INS Shakti: A fleet replenishment tanker, crucial for long-range deployments and sea-based logistics.

• INS Kiltan: An anti-submarine warfare corvette designed for coastal defense and surveillance.

Together, these ships represent the technological advancement, self-reliance, and combat capability of the Indian Navy, supporting extended blue-water operations and cooperative missions.

Looking Ahead: A Future Anchored in Cooperation

The port call by Indian Naval ships to Singapore reflects India’s growing maritime engagement in Southeast Asia, a region central to global trade and security. It reinforces the message that India stands ready to partner with like-minded nations to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

The Indian Navy's engagement in Singapore is not only a symbol of mutual respect and operational trust but also a reaffirmation of the commitment to a rules-based international maritime order, critical in the face of evolving regional challenges.