Is INS Trikand Leading India-Greece’s First Maritime Exercise?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- First bilateral maritime exercise between India and Greece.
- INS Trikand enhances naval cooperation.
- Focus on interoperability and tactical skills.
- Engagement includes military discussions and cultural exchanges.
- Strengthening regional security partnerships.
New Delhi, Sep 14 (NationPress) The first-ever bilateral maritime exercise between India and Greece will be led by the Indian Naval Ship Trikand, which has docked at Salamis Bay, Greece, during its current deployment in the Mediterranean Sea, an official announced on Sunday.
INS Trikand, a stealth frigate that arrived in Greece on Saturday, aims to bolster interoperability, fine-tune tactical capabilities, and strengthen operational collaboration.
While at Salamis Bay, INS Trikand will participate in various activities designed to enhance both bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
These activities will include interactions with senior military officials, strategic planning discussions, cross-deck visits, and cultural exchanges to foster people-to-people connections. This will be succeeded by the sea phase of the exercise, as stated by the official.
Upon completion of this bilateral exercise, the vessel will move on to the next phase of its deployment in the region, the statement said.
Previously, INS Trikand had docked at Alexandria, Egypt, on September 1, 2025, during its deployment in the Mediterranean Sea to participate in the Bright Star 2025 exercise, hosted by Egypt from September 1 to 10.
This significant defense exercise featured participation from contingents of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
Bright Star 2025 was a multilateral exercise organized by the US Central Command across air, land, and maritime domains, aimed at promoting regional security and cooperation while enhancing interoperability against hybrid threats.
In addition to the US, Egypt, and India, forces from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy also took part in this exercise. During its port call in Alexandria, INS Trikand engaged in several activities to promote bilateral and multilateral collaboration.
These included meetings with senior military officials, cross-deck visits, cultural exchanges, and sporting events to enhance interpersonal connections.
With upcoming port calls planned in the region, the key goals of this operational deployment are to engage in professional naval activities in the Mediterranean Sea, enhancing interoperability with partner maritime nations.