Commemorating “25 years of Dialogue Partnership” between India and ASEAN members, Indian Naval Ships Satpura and Kadmatt are on a four-day port visit to Manila, Philippines from Tuesday.
During the period, the Commanding Officers will call on several high-ranking officers from the Philippines Navy (PN). Besides friendly sports fixtures, the ships will also take part in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with ships of the PN on their departure from Manila, says a Navy release.
Indian warships have visited Philippines every year since 2006.
The relations centre around the fields of maritime security, ship-building and mutual training exchanges between their navies.
A Defence Cooperation Agreement was signed between both countries in Feb 2006 and a Joint Defence Cooperation Committee established in 2012. During the visit of Indian ships, mutual training exchanges for specialisation even at very senior levels takes place. Participation of a Philippine Navy delegation in the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam as also the Admiral’s Cup, an international regatta conducted by the Indian Navy at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, are evidence of the ever growing relations between both the countries.