VISIT OF INDIAN NAVAL SHIPS TO KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA

Two Indian Naval ships Delhi and Shakti under the command of R Adm Rajesh Dhankhar, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet arrived at Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia as part of the Indian Navy’s Operational Deployment. The ships were accorded a warm welcome by the Royal Malaysian Navy and the High Commission of India in Malaysia.

During the port call, personnel from Indian and Malaysian Navies will engage in a wide range of professional interactions including Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) sessions, yoga, sports fixtures and cross-deck visits aimed at further strengthening the existing mutual cooperation and understanding between the two Navies.

The Indian Navy ships, on completion of harbour visit, will also participate in a Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX)/ PASSEX at sea with ships of the Royal Malaysian Navy. This is aimed to enhance the degree of interoperability between the two Navies, which was reiterated during the recently concluded MILAN 2024 and Ex Samudra Lakshmana 2024.

This visit will further strengthen the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two maritime neighbours through a series of engagements and activities. The deployment of IN ships to this crucial region also highlights the Indian Navy’s steadfast commitment to the ‘Act East’ and SAGAR policies of the Government of India.

INS Delhi is the first indigenously designed and built Project-15 class guided missile destroyer and INS Shakti is a Fleet Support Ship, both ships are part of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet.