Indian Navy's First Training Squadron wraps Maldives engagement, PASSEX with MNDF Coast Guard
Synopsis
India's First Training Squadron — INS Tir, INS Sujata, and ICGS Sarathi — has wrapped back-to-back Passage Exercises with the Maldives and Seychelles coast guards, a deployment that maps almost perfectly onto New Delhi's MAHASAGAR strategy: quiet, consistent naval presence across the Indian Ocean island arc rather than headline-grabbing gestures.
Key Takeaways
INS Tir , INS Sujata , and ICGS Sarathi concluded a PASSEX with the MNDF Coast Guard in Maldives on 24 October 2026 .
The same squadron earlier completed a port call at Port Victoria, Seychelles from 12–15 October 2026 , including a PASSEX with Seychelles Coast Guard ship Andromache .
Senior officers met Major General Michael Rosette , Chief of Defence Forces of the Seychelles Defence Force , during the Seychelles stop.
The deployment is part of India's MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) initiative.
The squadron remains on an ongoing training deployment and is expected to visit further destinations.
Ships from the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) have successfully concluded their training and military engagement in the Maldives, including a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard, the High Commission of India in Malé announced on Saturday, 24 October 2026. The engagement reinforces the enduring maritime partnership between India and the Maldives at a time of renewed focus on Indian Ocean security.
The Squadron and Its Ships
The First Training Squadron comprises three vessels — INS Tir, INS Sujata, and Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sarathi — currently on an ongoing training deployment across the Indian Ocean region. The PASSEX with the MNDF Coast Guard involved coordinated maritime drills designed to build interoperability and strengthen bilateral naval ties.
'The 1TS of the Indian Navy (INS Tir, INS Sujata and ICGS Sarathi) successfully concluded their highly productive training and military engagement, including the PASSEX with the MNDF Coast Guard, reinforcing the enduring maritime partnership between India and the Maldives,' the High Commission posted on X.
Earlier Stop: Seychelles Port Victoria
Before arriving in the Maldives, the 1TS ships concluded a port call at Port Victoria, Seychelles, between 12 October and 15 October, departing on completion. During that visit, the Senior Officer of 1TS, along with the Commanding Officers of the three ships, called on Major General Michael Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces of the Seychelles Defence Force (SDF). Discussions focused on the enduring bilateral partnership and avenues for further cooperation.
A PASSEX was also conducted with Seychelles Coast Guard ship Andromache, featuring joint patrolling, communication drills, and coordinated manoeuvres, according to the Indian Navy's own post on X.
The MAHASAGAR Vision
The broader deployment is framed under India's MAHASAGAR doctrine — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — which guides the Navy's capacity-building and partnership initiatives across the Indo-Pacific littoral. Notably, this deployment spans two strategically significant island nations, underlining New Delhi's intent to deepen its maritime footprint in the Indian Ocean through consistent naval engagement rather than one-off visits.
Strategic Significance
The Maldives and Seychelles sit astride critical sea lanes that carry a large share of India's trade and energy imports. Regular exercises such as PASSEX, while not large-scale combat drills, build the communication protocols and mutual familiarity that underpin credible regional security architecture. This deployment comes amid India's sustained effort to consolidate relationships with Indian Ocean island states, where competition for influence has intensified in recent years.
The First Training Squadron is expected to continue its deployment to further destinations as part of the ongoing training mission.
Point of View
Then Maldives, both via coordinated PASSEX exercises — reflects a deliberate Indian Ocean strategy that gets far less attention than diplomatic summits but arguably delivers more durable influence. The MAHASAGAR framework is New Delhi's answer to the perception that China's naval presence in the region is more consistent; regular training deployments build the interoperability and goodwill that cannot be purchased with infrastructure loans alone. The Maldives stop is particularly notable given the diplomatic turbulence in that bilateral relationship in recent years — a training squadron's call is a calibrated signal of normalcy and partnership. Whether these exercises translate into deeper operational coordination, including information sharing on maritime domain awareness, will be the real measure of their strategic value.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS)?
The First Training Squadron (1TS) is a group of Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships — currently comprising INS Tir, INS Sujata, and ICGS Sarathi — deployed on training missions across the Indian Ocean region. The squadron conducts port calls, bilateral exercises, and Passage Exercises (PASSEX) with partner nations to build maritime interoperability and regional partnerships.
What is a PASSEX and why does it matter?
A Passage Exercise (PASSEX) is a short, at-sea drill conducted between naval or coast guard vessels of two countries, typically covering communication protocols, coordinated manoeuvres, and joint patrolling. While brief, PASSEX exercises build the operational familiarity needed for credible bilateral maritime cooperation.
Which countries did the First Training Squadron visit on this deployment?
The squadron visited Seychelles, completing a port call at Port Victoria between 12 and 15 October 2026, and then proceeded to the Maldives, wrapping up engagements there on 24 October 2026. Further stops are expected as the deployment continues.
What is India's MAHASAGAR initiative?
MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. It is the Indian Navy's overarching framework for capacity-building and partnership activities across the Indo-Pacific littoral, emphasising consistent regional engagement with Indian Ocean island nations and littoral states.
What did Indian officials discuss with the Seychelles Defence Force during the port call?
The Senior Officer of the First Training Squadron and the Commanding Officers of the visiting ships called on Major General Michael Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces of the Seychelles Defence Force, during the Port Victoria stop. Discussions focused on the enduring bilateral partnership and cooperation between the two defence forces.
