Indian Navy Eastern Fleet wraps Thailand port call, sails for SE Asia
Synopsis
India's Eastern Fleet — INS Udaygiri, Kavaratti, and Shakti — has wrapped a port call in Sattahip, Thailand, and is now sailing deeper into South East Asia. Coming days after a Vietnam stop, the twin visits reveal a deliberate, accelerating naval outreach that goes well beyond courtesy calls — it is India's Act East Policy in uniform.
Key Takeaways
INS Udaygiri, INS Kavaratti, and INS Shakti of the Eastern Fleet departed Sattahip, Thailand on 29 June after completing a port call.
The fleet is under the command of Rear Admiral Alok Ananda , Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.
Interactions with the Royal Thai Navy focused on bilateral cooperation, interoperability, and shared maritime security.
The deployment advances India's MAHASAGAR framework for regional maritime security and growth.
INS Udaygiri and INS Kavaratti had previously called at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on 22 June .
Maritime cooperation is described as a key pillar of the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam.
Indian Naval Ships INS Udaygiri, INS Kavaratti, and INS Shakti of the Eastern Fleet, under the command of Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, departed Sattahip, Thailand on 29 June after completing a port call, the Ministry of Defence confirmed on Tuesday. The ships have now moved on to further deployment across the South East Asia Region.
Purpose of the Thailand Visit
The port call at Sattahip formed a key leg of India's sustained engagement with South East Asian nations, aimed at deepening the longstanding maritime partnership between India and Thailand. Senior naval leadership from both sides held focused interactions on strengthening bilateral cooperation, enhancing interoperability, and addressing shared maritime security interests.
Professional exchanges, operational interactions, and sporting engagements were conducted with the Royal Thai Navy as part of the visit. A reception was also hosted aboard INS Udaygiri and INS Kavaratti, attended by the Ambassador of India to Thailand, senior officers of the Royal Thai Navy, diplomats, and prominent members of the Indian community.
MAHASAGAR Vision and Strategic Significance
The deployment is aligned with India's MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) framework, which envisions a unified, cooperative maritime community across the Indo-Pacific. According to the Ministry of Defence, the mission underscores the Indian Navy's commitment to collective security and regional partnerships, reinforcing camaraderie and bilateral maritime ties between the two nations.
Notably, this visit comes amid India's broader push to strengthen its strategic footprint in South East Asia, a region of growing geopolitical significance given contested maritime corridors and increasing great-power competition.
Vietnam Port Call Preceded Thailand Stop
Prior to arriving in Thailand, the Eastern Fleet visited Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with INS Udaygiri and INS Kavaratti arriving there on 22 June for professional exchanges and maritime cooperation activities. The Indian Embassy in Hanoi noted on X that maritime cooperation is one of the strongest pillars of the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam.
The back-to-back port calls in Vietnam and Thailand signal a coordinated diplomatic-naval outreach across the South East Asian littoral, with the Eastern Fleet serving as a visible instrument of India's Act East Policy.
What Comes Next
The three ships are now continuing their deployment across the South East Asia Region. The mission reflects an accelerating tempo of Indian naval engagement with ASEAN partners — a pattern that analysts say is likely to intensify as India seeks to balance influence in waters that are increasingly contested.
Point of View
But the real test is whether ship visits translate into interoperability agreements and joint patrol protocols. India's Act East Policy has long promised deeper maritime integration; the Eastern Fleet's current deployment is one of the more tangible expressions of that intent, even as the harder work of institutionalising cooperation remains incomplete.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Indian Navy ships visited Thailand and when did they depart?
INS Udaygiri, INS Kavaratti, and INS Shakti of the Eastern Fleet completed a port call at Sattahip, Thailand and departed on 29 June . The visit was confirmed by the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday.
What is the MAHASAGAR framework referenced in the deployment?
MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. It is India's vision for building a unified maritime community across the Indo-Pacific, emphasising collective security and regional partnerships.
What activities did the Indian Navy conduct during the Thailand port call?
The Eastern Fleet undertook professional exchanges, operational interactions, and sporting engagements with the Royal Thai Navy. A reception was also hosted aboard INS Udaygiri and INS Kavaratti, attended by the Indian Ambassador to Thailand, senior Thai naval officers, and members of the Indian community.
Did the Eastern Fleet visit any other country before Thailand?
Yes. INS Udaygiri and INS Kavaratti called at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on 22 June, prior to the Thailand stop. The Indian Embassy in Hanoi described maritime cooperation as a cornerstone of the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam.
Where is the Eastern Fleet headed after Thailand?
According to the Ministry of Defence, the three ships are continuing their deployment across the South East Asia Region. No specific next port has been officially named.
