India and Indonesia Begin 5th Samudra Shakti Naval Exercise

Continuing their strategic defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Navy (IN) and the Indonesian Navy commenced the 5th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise “Samudra Shakti 2025” on October 14, 2025, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The joint exercise will run till October 17, highlighting the growing maritime partnership between the two nations. Samudra Shakti, first held in 2018 under India’s Act East Policy, aims to deepen operational synergy and shared maritime interests in the region.

Structure and Phases of Samudra Shakti 2025

Like its previous editions, Samudra Shakti 2025 is divided into two distinct phases designed to combine diplomacy, professional exchange, and tactical readiness,

Harbour Phase

Held at Visakhapatnam, the Harbour Phase includes,

• Cross-deck visits
• Joint yoga sessions
• Friendly sports events
• Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE)

These activities build personal and professional rapport among naval personnel and help standardize operational procedures between the two navies.

Sea Phase

The Sea Phase focuses on high-intensity tactical operations, including,

• Helicopter operations and air defence exercises
• Weapon firing drills
• Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations

This phase sharpens interoperability, especially in scenarios involving anti-piracy, search-and-rescue, and humanitarian assistance.

Participating Ships and Platforms

India: INS Kavaratti

• Representing India is the INS Kavaratti, an indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette.
• Part of the Eastern Fleet
• Operates under the Eastern Naval Command (ENC)
• Symbol of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in naval defence

Indonesia: KRI John Lie

• Indonesia is participating with the KRI John Lie, a Corvette class vessel equipped with an integral helicopter, enhancing the operational scope of the drills.

Strategic and Regional Importance

Reinforcing Indo-Pacific Maritime Security

The Indo-Pacific is central to global trade and security, making bilateral maritime cooperation essential. Samudra Shakti 2025,

• Reinforces the shared maritime security interests of India and Indonesia
• Boosts operational coordination, trust, and best practices
• Enhances readiness for joint operations in sea lane protection, disaster response, and regional peacekeeping
• The exercise also aligns with India’s Act East Policy and its vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

Background of Samudra Shakti Exercise

• Initiated in 2018, first held in Surabaya, Indonesia
• 4th edition: Held in May 2023, in the South China Sea
• Designed to be an annual bilateral maritime exercise, fostering cooperation across multiple maritime domains
• Each edition has expanded the scope, complexity, and tactical components, reflecting the evolving geopolitical and security dynamics of the Indo-Pacific.