A large share of India’s crude oil imports and exports passes through the Arabian Sea and the western Indian Ocean. Any disruption in these waters can quickly affect freight rates, insurance costs and supply chains.Against this backdrop, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Surat arrived in Muscat, Oman, on November 8 to participate in the 15th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise Naseem Al Bahr, followed by a Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) with the Royal Navy of Oman.The exercise includes harbour and sea phases, with cross-deck visits, operational interactions and sporting events. The aim is to allow personnel from both navies to exchange operational experience and best practices, improve interoperability and strengthen mutual understanding.The port call is in line with the government’s MAHASAGAR vision, short for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. It also builds on the 13th meeting of the India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee, held on November 24, 2025.Press Information Bureau+1
Why these waters matter
The western maritime approaches connect India’s ports with the Gulf, the Red Sea, Europe and the east coast of Africa. The Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia are particularly important because they provide access to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, a major shipping route between Asia and Europe. Any disruption caused by conflict, piracy or attacks on merchant vessels can affect India’s energy security and export industries.The Indian Navy has maintained an anti-piracy deployment in the Gulf of Aden since 2008. In July 2026, INS Trikand responded to an attempted pirate attack on the merchant vessel MV Golden Arsenal, approximately 300 nautical miles (550 km) east-northeast of Djibouti. The warship deployed a boarding team, supported by a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, to secure the vessel and assess the situation.In 2026, the Navy also launched Operation Urja Suraksha to protect merchant shipping and India’s energy interests amid the worsening security situation in West Asia.Its role extends beyond anti-piracy patrols. INS Tarkash, deployed in the western Indian Ocean from January 2025, supported Combined Task Force 150 of the 47-nation Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). On March 31, 2025, the warship intercepted a vessel carrying more than 2,500 kg of narcotics.On October 14, 2026, the Indian Navy relinquished command of Combined Task Force 154, the CMF’s maritime training task force, at a ceremony in Bahrain. During its eight-month command, the Navy oversaw multinational training and capacity-building initiatives involving personnel from 39 countries.
Working with partners in the region
INS Trikand visited Maputo, Mozambique, in March 2026, where it conducted joint training with the Mozambique Navy. On departure, the warship also undertook joint surveillance of Mozambique’s exclusive economic zone, with Mozambican naval personnel on board.INS Sunayna’s deployments under the IOS SAGAR initiative in 2025 and 2026 further demonstrated India’s efforts to strengthen regional maritime cooperation. The 2025 mission included 44 naval personnel from nine partner countries, while the 2026 deployment brought together 38 personnel from 16 partner nations for multinational training and operational engagements across the Indian Ocean region.The Navy’s operational reach was on display again on November 2, when INS Kolkata, supported by Indian Air Force assets, helped rescue all 20 crew members of the Iranian fishing vessel Azini, which had been hijacked by armed pirates off Somalia.The operation, conducted over 48 hours more than 3,000 km from Mumbai, involved maritime surveillance, marine commandos and an IAF C-17 aircraft that airdropped additional personnel. The crew was rescued without casualties.