What happened?
Between August 19 and 22, INS Tamal, the Indian Navy’s newest stealth frigate, made a port call at Souda Bay, Greece, as part of its homeward passage to India. The ship’s crew held meetings with senior officials of the Hellenic Navy, NATO and the US Navy, with discussions centred on operational cooperation and interoperability. A cross-deck visit was also conducted onboard the Italian Navy’s amphibious assault ship ITS Trieste. India’s Ambassador to Greece, Rudrendra Tandon, visited the vessel and interacted with the crew, who also toured naval facilities, a maritime museum, and paid homage at the World War II cemetery in Crete. Before departing on August 22, INS Tamal undertook a Passage Exercise with HS Ritsos of the Hellenic Navy.
Why it matters to India
The visit highlights India’s growing maritime engagement with Greece, a key partner in the Mediterranean, and underscores New Delhi’s intent to strengthen defence cooperation with European navies. Conducting joint exercises and cross-deck interactions enhances interoperability and paves the way for future collaboration in security operations. The port call also extends India’s maritime diplomacy footprint, linking the Indian Navy with NATO structures and US forces operating in the region. As India positions itself as a key Indo-Pacific player, partnerships like these broaden its strategic reach and reinforce its ability to work with allies across different theatres.