India-Italy defence ties: The Indian Navy ship INS Trikand stopped at Taranto, Italy, on 28 September while it was sailing in the Mediterranean Sea. The Navy said the stop was part of its ongoing work in the region. During the stay, the sailors from India and Italy spent time together, visiting each other’s ships and talking about their work.
They shared how they do things at sea so they can understand each other better and work together more easily in the future. The ship’s captain, Sachin Kulkarni, also met with Rear Admiral Andrea Petroni, who leads the Italian Navy’s Second Naval Division. This meeting showed how India and Italy both care about building a strong friendship through defence ties and working more closely on the seas.
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Exercises in Egypt
Before coming to Italy INS Trikand had already gone to Alexandria in Egypt. The ship joined a big exercise called Bright Star 2025 that took place from 1 to 10 September. This event was hosted by Egypt and also led by US Central Command.
The aim of the drills was for navies and other forces to practice together and to learn from each other. The Indian Ministry of Defence said the training helped all the countries work better against both regular and new types of sea threats. The Indian Army and Air Force also joined the exercise along with the Navy.
The Navy spokesperson shared updates on X, calling the event a “bridge of friendship” between India and Egypt. The post said that INS Trikand reached Alexandria on 1 September and joined the multinational Bright Star 2025, which also had many other countries. During the time in Egypt, Indian forces joined meetings with senior officers, did cultural events, sports matches, and other activities to bring people closer.
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A mission in the Mediterranean
The Defence Ministry said INS Trikand going around the Mediterranean is not only about stopping at a few ports. The main idea is to make better bonds with many navies there, to talk with them, do practice with them, and get ready if they need to work together later. These visits and trainings will help India and other countries understand each other better and also act together in the sea when the time comes.
