INS Trishul wraps Alexandria port call, conducts PASSEX with Egyptian Navy
Synopsis
INS Trishul's three-day stop in Alexandria was more than a routine port call — it involved a live naval drill with Egypt's ENS Bernees, a diplomatic visit by India's Ambassador, and a tribute to 19 Indian soldiers named at the Chatby War Memorial. The visit is a tangible signal of the India–Egypt Strategic Partnership's growing defence dimension.
Key Takeaways
INS Trishul concluded a three-day port call at Alexandria, Egypt on 17 September 2026 .
The frigate conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Egyptian Naval Ship ENS Bernees , covering manoeuvring drills, communication exercises, and replenishment-at-sea approaches.
India's Ambassador Suresh K Reddy visited the ship at Alexandria Naval Base and met the crew.
The Commanding Officer paid homage at the Chatby War Memorial , which bears the names of 19 Indian soldiers who died in the Eastern Mediterranean during the World Wars.
The visit was described by the Ministry of Defence as reaffirming the 'longstanding relationship' between the Indian and Egyptian navies.
INS Trishul, the Indian Navy's frontline guided-missile stealth frigate, concluded a three-day port call at Alexandria, Egypt on 17 September 2026, underscoring the growing maritime and defence partnership between India and Egypt. The visit included a bilateral naval exercise, a ceremonial tribute to World War veterans, and a high-level diplomatic engagement.
A Warm Harbour Welcome
On arrival at Alexandria Harbour, INS Trishul was escorted by the Egyptian Naval Ship Al Qadeer, a gesture reflecting the warmth of bilateral naval ties. The ship berthed at the Alexandria Naval Base, where it was received by Egyptian Navy personnel and Indian diplomatic officials alike.
Passage Exercise With ENS Bernees
Before entering harbour, INS Trishul undertook a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Egyptian Naval Ship ENS Bernees. The exercise comprised coordinated manoeuvring drills, communication exercises, and approaches for replenishment at sea. According to the Ministry of Defence, the drill gave sailors from both navies the opportunity to exchange professional expertise and enhance interoperability — a key metric of operational readiness in joint maritime scenarios.
Diplomatic Engagement and Tribute to War Veterans
India's Ambassador to Egypt, Suresh K Reddy, visited INS Trishul during the port call and met the ship's crew. The Commanding Officer and crew paid homage at the Chatby War Memorial, which contains 12 burials and bears the names of 19 Indian soldiers who perished in ships sunk in the Eastern Mediterranean during the two World Wars, according to the Ministry of Defence statement. The tribute carried symbolic weight, linking India's historical maritime sacrifice with its present-day naval reach in the region.
What India and Egypt Said
The Indian Embassy in Egypt noted in a post on social media platform X that the visit 'underscored the strengthening of India–Egypt maritime engagement and defence cooperation.' The Ministry of Defence also posted on X that 'the port call and the PASSEX reaffirm the longstanding relationship between the Indian Navy and the Egyptian Navy and contribute to strengthening maritime cooperation between the two friendly nations.'
Broader Strategic Context
This port call comes amid India's expanding naval footprint across the Indian Ocean Region and beyond, as New Delhi deepens bilateral security ties with Arab nations. Egypt, strategically positioned at the junction of the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Suez Canal, is an increasingly important partner in India's maritime outreach. Notably, India and Egypt elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2023, and such naval visits reinforce the defence dimension of that framework. The visit is part of a wider pattern of Indian Navy deployments to friendly foreign ports, building interoperability and signalling presence.
Point of View
And India's decision to invest in joint exercises and diplomatic engagement there is not incidental. What this visit quietly signals is that India's naval reach is steadily extending into the Mediterranean littoral — a region traditionally dominated by US, French, and British naval assets. The tribute at Chatby was also a deft piece of historical diplomacy: linking shared sacrifice in the World Wars to present-day partnership is precisely the kind of soft power gesture that outlasts any single drill.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was INS Trishul doing in Alexandria, Egypt?
INS Trishul, the Indian Navy's guided-missile stealth frigate, made a three-day port call at Alexandria, Egypt, concluding on 17 September 2026. During the visit, it conducted a Passage Exercise with the Egyptian Navy, hosted India's Ambassador, and paid tribute to Indian soldiers at the Chatby War Memorial.
What is a PASSEX and what did it involve here?
A Passage Exercise (PASSEX) is a short bilateral naval drill conducted as one ship passes through another navy's area. INS Trishul's PASSEX with Egyptian Naval Ship ENS Bernees included coordinated manoeuvring drills, communication exercises, and replenishment-at-sea approaches to improve interoperability between the two navies.
What is the Chatby War Memorial and why did INS Trishul's crew visit it?
The Chatby War Memorial in Alexandria contains 12 burials and bears the names of 19 Indian soldiers who died in ships sunk in the Eastern Mediterranean during the two World Wars. INS Trishul's Commanding Officer and crew paid homage there as a mark of respect for India's historical maritime sacrifice in the region.
How does this port call fit into India–Egypt relations?
India and Egypt elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership in 2023, with defence and maritime cooperation identified as key pillars. Regular Indian Navy port calls and joint exercises like this one translate that diplomatic framework into operational reality, building trust and interoperability between the two countries' armed forces.
Which senior Indian official visited INS Trishul during the port call?
India's Ambassador to Egypt, Suresh K Reddy, visited INS Trishul at the Alexandria Naval Base and met the ship's crew during the port call.
