INS Trishul Strengthens India-Egypt Naval Cooperation During Safaga Visit

The Indian Navy’s INS Trishul has completed its port call at Safaga Naval Base in Egypt during its ongoing operational deployment, the Ministry of Defence announced on Wednesday.

The visit marked another step towards strengthening maritime cooperation between India and Egypt, following the 11th India-Egypt Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting in Cairo in April 2026.

The meeting provided a framework for implementing commitments under the Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed in September 2022. Both countries had elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2023.

During the visit, INS Trishul’s Commanding Officer met Rear Admiral MD Abd El Maksoud, Commander of Egypt’s Red Sea Naval Base.

Their discussions covered maritime security in the Gulf of Suez and the strategic importance of the Red Sea.

The Indian naval crew also visited Egyptian Naval Ship ENS Port Said (976) to understand its operational capabilities and learn about the Egyptian Navy’s professional practices.

Joint Training Strengthens Naval Partnership

The programme included reciprocal interactions between Indian and Egyptian naval personnel, alongside joint diving exercises.

These activities enabled both navies to exchange operational knowledge, share best practices and develop greater professional understanding.

The Ministry of Defence said the engagement reaffirmed the two countries’ longstanding defence relationship and their shared commitment to regional stability and maritime security.

Before reaching Egypt, INS Trishul completed a port call at Souda Bay in Greece the previous week.

During the visit, Indian naval officers interacted with senior Hellenic Navy officials, alongside representatives of NATO’s Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre and the US Naval Support Activity at Souda Bay.

The programme included operational discussions, reciprocal ship visits and professional exchanges focusing on logistics, mutual assistance and maritime cooperation.

Following the completion of its engagements in Egypt, INS Trishul proceeded towards the next phase of its operational deployment.

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