A six-member Russian Navy delegation visited key Indian naval training establishments in Kerala as New Delhi and Moscow seek closer defence ties…reports Asian Lite News Desk
A six-member Russian Navy delegation led by Captain 1st Rank Sergei V Saitov visited the Southern Naval Command and the Indian Naval Academy in Kerala, in a move aimed at strengthening the longstanding naval partnership between India and Russia.
The delegation visited the establishments from September 27 to October 1 and familiarised itself with the Indian Navy’s training architecture, infrastructure and facilities, the Indian Navy said on social media platform X on Saturday.
“Discussions explored avenues to deepen maritime cooperation, enhance interoperability and further consolidate institutional and professional linkages. A reflection of the enduring naval partnership between India & Russia,” the Indian Navy posted on X.
The visit comes as India and Russia continue efforts to strengthen their longstanding defence and strategic relationship across military and maritime sectors.
The latest naval engagement follows a meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York last week.
According to Russia’s Foreign Ministry, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the “special and privileged” Russia-India Strategic Partnership and maintaining close coordination at the United Nations, G20 and BRICS.
“The sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the special and privileged Russia-India Strategic Partnership and close coordination at the UN, G20 and BRICS,” the ministry said in a post on X following the meeting.
Jaishankar also said on X that the two ministers “exchanged views on a number of ongoing issues. Also took stock of our bilateral and BRICS cooperation”.
The naval delegation’s visit also follows a recent high-level engagement between the Indian and Russian armies.
Last month, Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth concluded a three-day official visit to Russia, marking the first visit by an Indian Army Chief to the country in eight years.
The visit included meetings with senior Russian military officials and visits to key military institutions, with the two sides discussing ways to expand defence cooperation.
General Seth met Russia’s Deputy Minister of Defence General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Land Forces Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev.
According to the Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information, the discussions focused on joint capability development, training exchanges, operational experience and expanding Army-to-Army cooperation.
“General Dhiraj Seth, COAS, during his ongoing official visit to Russia, received a ceremonial Guard of Honour and paid homage at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. The COAS also visited the Russian Land Forces Headquarters, where interactions were held on issues of mutual interest, focused on deepening military cooperation, expanding training engagements and strengthening capability development between the two Armies,” the ADGPI posted on X.
The latest naval engagement adds to a series of military-level exchanges between India and Russia, reflecting continued efforts by both sides to maintain institutional links and expand cooperation in defence and security.
