India-Thailand Navy Staff Talks 2026: Capacity building, training reaffirmed
Synopsis
The 14th India-Royal Thai Navy Staff Talks, co-chaired by rear admirals from both sides, wrapped up in New Delhi on 3 September 2026 — capping a year of intensifying bilateral naval activity that included a passage exercise, port visits, and people-to-people exchanges. The pattern points to a deepening, institutionalised maritime partnership with clear Indo-Pacific strategic underpinnings.
Key Takeaways
The 14th India-Royal Thai Navy Staff Talks concluded on 3 September 2026 in New Delhi .
Talks were co-chaired by Rear Admiral Sachin R Sequeira (Indian Navy) and Rear Admiral Chaksawat Saiwong (Royal Thai Navy).
Both sides reaffirmed commitment to capacity building and training and identified new areas for collaboration.
In July 2026 , INS Udaygiri , INS Shakti , and INS Kavaratti conducted a PASSEX with HTMS Chao Phraya following a port visit to Sattahip, Thailand .
A friendly volleyball match and joint yoga session were held during the Sattahip visit, reflecting people-to-people naval engagement.
The 14th edition of Staff Talks between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy concluded successfully on 3 September 2026 in New Delhi, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to capacity building and training while identifying new areas for bilateral collaboration. The talks mark a significant step in deepening the maritime partnership between the two nations.
Key Developments from the Staff Talks
The bilateral discussions were co-chaired by Rear Admiral Sachin R Sequeira, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence), and Rear Admiral Chaksawat Saiwong, Director, Office of Policy and Planning, Naval Operations Department, Royal Thai Navy. The talks centred on strengthening the foundations of bilateral naval engagement, with both sides identifying concrete areas for further collaboration going forward.
Recent Naval Exercises Reinforce Ties
The Staff Talks follow a series of active naval engagements between the two countries in mid-2026. In July, Indian Naval Ships INS Udaygiri, INS Shakti, and INS Kavaratti of the Eastern Fleet conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Royal Thai Navy's HTMS Chao Phraya. According to the Indian Navy, the exercise enhanced interoperability between the two navies and reaffirmed their shared commitment to maritime security and regional stability.
The PASSEX was conducted following the Eastern Fleet's port visit to Sattahip, Thailand. During that visit, professional exchanges, a combined yoga session, sporting engagements, and ship visits were organised. A friendly volleyball match between personnel of both navies also took place on 30 June during the Sattahip visit.
What the Engagement Signals
This comes amid India's broader push to strengthen maritime partnerships across the Indo-Pacific, a strategic priority that has seen New Delhi deepen naval ties with ASEAN nations. Thailand, as a key ASEAN member, holds strategic value for India's Act East Policy. The regularity of these Staff Talks — now in their 14th edition — reflects an institutionalised framework that goes beyond ceremonial visits to address operational interoperability and capability development.
Notably, the combination of high-level staff talks, passage exercises, and people-to-people naval exchanges signals a multi-layered engagement model that analysts say is increasingly characteristic of India's bilateral naval diplomacy in the region.
What Happens Next
The areas of further collaboration identified during the 3 September talks are expected to be formalised into actionable frameworks in the months ahead. Both navies are anticipated to continue joint exercises and training exchanges as part of the outcomes from this latest round of discussions.
Point of View
Decade-long investment in institutionalising India-Thailand naval ties. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is that the PASSEX and port-visit cycle that preceded these talks is itself a template: India is deploying the same multi-layered engagement model — exercises, professional exchanges, people-to-people contact — across ASEAN navies simultaneously. The real question is whether capacity-building commitments translate into hardware transfers or joint patrol frameworks, which would mark a qualitative upgrade from the current relationship. For now, the talks signal intent; the next round will reveal delivery.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the India-Royal Thai Navy Staff Talks 2026 about?
The 14th edition of Staff Talks between the Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy, held on 3 September 2026 in New Delhi, focused on strengthening bilateral naval engagement, reaffirming commitment to capacity building and training, and identifying areas for further collaboration. The talks were co-chaired by senior rear admirals from both sides.
Who co-chaired the India-Thailand Navy Staff Talks?
The talks were co-chaired by Rear Admiral Sachin R Sequeira, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence) from the Indian Navy, and Rear Admiral Chaksawat Saiwong, Director of the Office of Policy and Planning, Naval Operations Department, Royal Thai Navy.
What naval exercises did India and Thailand conduct in 2026?
In July 2026, INS Udaygiri, INS Shakti, and INS Kavaratti of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Royal Thai Navy's HTMS Chao Phraya following a port visit to Sattahip, Thailand. The exercise aimed to enhance interoperability and reinforce maritime security cooperation.
What activities took place during the Indian Navy's visit to Sattahip?
During the Sattahip port visit, Indian and Thai naval personnel engaged in professional exchanges, a combined yoga session, sporting activities including a friendly volleyball match on 30 June, and ship visits. The visit concluded with a farewell ceremony hosted by the Royal Thai Navy.
How does this fit into India's broader maritime strategy?
The Staff Talks are part of India's Act East Policy, which prioritises deepening naval and strategic ties with ASEAN nations. The regularity of these talks — now in their 14th edition — reflects an institutionalised bilateral framework focused on interoperability, capacity building, and regional maritime stability in the Indo-Pacific.
