By IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi / Al-Jubail, 10 Sept 2015: Riding on the tides of enthusiastic Indian moves to make ties stronger with the Arab world, two Indian Navy ships – INS Delhi and INS Trishul – anchored Thursday, 9 September, at Al-Jubail, the port city of Saudi Arabia.
The visiting ships form part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet and are based at Mumbai. Apart from the Saudi-visiting ships, two more warships – INS Deepak and INS Tabar – were also deployed in the gulf waters. NS Deepak and INS Tabar entered Manama, Bahrain, on Wednesday, 9 September, and will stay there till 12 September.
The naval fleet will reportedly stay in the Saudi port till 13 September, during which the warships will have professional interactions to enhance co-operation and understanding the nuances of naval operations including disaster management and combating maritime threats of terrorism and piracy. Apart from professional interactions, sports and social engagements are also planned, “which are aimed at enhancing co-operation and understanding between the navies of both nations,” per the Indian Defence Ministry.
The Indian Navy has so far been maintaining close ties with the navies in the gulf and has been regularly exercising with many of them. “The Indian Navy is also privileged to provide training and hydrographic support to several navies in the region. The involvement of Indian Naval ships in combating piracy off the coast of Somalia since October 2008 has further strengthened bilateral ties and interaction with navies in the region,” said the Indian Defence Ministry.
