INS Tamal and INS Surat in Jeddah: Two Indian warships, INS Tamal and INS Surat, reached Jeddah Islamic Port at the end of August 2025. The frigate INS Tamal just got commissioned in Russia and is now on her way to India. This ship is special because it is the last warship that India is bringing from another country. Along with her, INS Surat, a powerful guided missile destroyer, also made the visit, reported DD News. Both ships came to Saudi Arabia to continue the naval exchanges that India and Saudi Arabia are building.
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During their stay, the crew from the ships met officers from the Western Fleet of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces and also the Director General of the Saudi Border Guards. The sailors went to the Jeddah Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre to see how it works. They even played a football match with Saudi naval officers, which added a friendly touch to the visit. The stop at Jeddah will end with both navies going out to sea together for a passage exercise.
Cooperation between the two navies
India and Saudi Arabia are working closely on many naval matters. Their cooperation is becoming one of the strong parts of the defence partnership between the two countries. The two navies already carried out joint drills named Al Mohed Al Hindi in 2021 and again in 2023. In 2025, they also held the first ever Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks. This shows that the partnership is not just about ships visiting but also about officers planning and training together.
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Both sides are also sharing knowledge through training programs. Indian Navy and Saudi Navy officers and cadets keep visiting each other’s institutes for learning. A Saudi naval team also visited the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram not long ago. These activities are making the relationship stronger day by day.
