How the Indian Navy anchors growing military ties with Saudi Arabia

In recent years, the Indian Navy has been playing a crucial role in furthering the wide-ranging India-Saudi ties. The Kochi-headquartered Southern Naval Command(SNC), which is the hub of the Indian Navy's diverse and sophisticated training facilities, has been spearheading these efforts. Since 2023, batches of Saudi Naval cadets have been undergoing training along with their Indian counterparts at the Indian Navy's 1st Training Squadron in Kochi,a city that prides itself for having built India's first indigenous aircraft carrier - INS Vikrant.

The first batch of 55 Royal Saudi Navy Officer trainees arrived in Kochi,Kerala, from the King Fahad Academy of the Royal Saudi Naval Force (RSNF) in the year 2023. The Saudi Government had deputed them for training aboard India's 1st Training Squadron, Southern Naval Command. Following the success of the 2023 edition, 76 Saudi trainees came to Kochi in 2024, thereby giving a fillip to the Indo-Saudi ties and bonhomie.

Did you know that the #IndianNavy has been Training Naval officer cadets from #SaudiArabia, in #Kochi #Kerala??

Last yr, 55 Saudi Naval officer trainees completed training in 🇮🇳
This yr, 76 cadets have completed their training#India #military #diplomacy @DefencePROkochi pic.twitter.com/hiVMM4yp6G — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) August 20, 2024

The Indian Navy's 1st Training Squadron (1st TS) comprises numerous training ships that offer hands-on training for newly-minted Indian Navy officers, before they go on to serve aboard frontline warships. The 1st TS fleet comprises Indian-made ships INS Tir, INS Sujata, INS Shardul, ICGS Varuna and two Sail Training Ships, Sudarshini and Tarangini. The Indian Navy's Southern Naval Command also boasts of Asia's Largest Naval Academy, the sprawling Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala, where Indian Naval and Coast Guard officers are imparted ab-initio training.

The primary aim of the First Training Squadron is to impart sea training to Naval and Coast Guard officer cadets (within a span of months). All the trainees are trained in Seamanship, Navigation, Ship Handling, Boat Work, Technical aspects etc. whilst being exposed to the rigours of life at sea, so as to earn their metaphorical ‘sea legs’. The Saudi trainees not only trained along with their Indian counterparts, but also undertook three sea sorties along with the Indian Navy trainees aboard the 1st Training Squadron ships. During these sea sorties, the Saudi cadets performed various exercises including Visit, Board, Search & Seize Operations (VBSS), transfer of personnel from one ship to another, replenishment at sea, etc.

During their training period in #Kochi #Kerala #India, #Saudi Naval officer trainees worked together with their #IndianNavy counterparts..
🇮🇳🇸🇦
They went on 3 sea sorties. From weapons firing to tandem replenishment to Visit, Board, Search, Seize ops, they did it all... pic.twitter.com/jH11RgKqnE — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) August 20, 2024

Regarding the course conducted onboard 1TS, a senior Naval officer from SNC mentioned, “The course not only imparts crucial technical skills, but also emphasises the importance of discipline, teamwork, and leadership, which is vital for achieving success in naval operations.”This year the course has been made more practically oriented to prepare trainees to handle various challenges at sea.

The most important aspect of cross-training is the capacity to learn together and about each other. An Indian Navy officer trainee onboard 1TS commented, “We have formed really close bonds. We study and prepare for exams, and conduct maneuvers at sea together. It is a great learning experience for all of us.”

Evolution of India-Saudi defence ties

India-Saudi Arabia relations have grown from strength to strength in recent decades. Such growing closeness with Saudi Arabia is part of India’s broader focus on nurturing ties with West Asia. India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy focused not just on ‘Look West’, but also, on ‘Act West’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to UAE in August 2015 was the first-ever by an Indian PM in 34 years. Later in 2019, India signed a pact with Saudi Arabia for the establishment of a Strategic Partnership Council (SPC), expanding the ambit of bilateral relations to cover political, security, social, economic, investment, and cultural cooperation.

Among these domains, military ties stand out, as India and Saudi Arabia conducted their first-ever bilateral Naval exercise, 'Al Mohed Al Hind', in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, in August 2021. Later, as a measure of reciprocity, in February 2022, Saudi Arabia became one among more than three dozen countries to participate in the Indian Navy’s ‘Milan’ Exercise on the shores of India’s eastern city of Visakhapatnam. Jan-Feb 2024 also witnessed the first edition of the India-Saudi Arabia Joint Military Exercise, 'Sada Tanseeq', held in the deserts of Rajasthan.

These military exercises prove crucial in imbibing the best practices from each other, increasing interoperability, and fostering trust - all three being emblematic of growing relations between the two countries. Among these, trust manifests most significantly when two countries decide to train together in the military domain. Because training together exposes one force to the strengths and weaknesses of the other. As a natural consequence, the rigorous and stressful nature of military training also fosters strong bonhomie and camaraderie, which lasts a lifetime.

The Royal Saudi Naval Force (RSNF) operates primarily in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Arabian sea, with a focus on protecting the kingdom's maritime interests, including its extensive coastline and critical infrastructure. Further, the RSNF has been modernizing its fleet, incorporating advanced ships and technology to enhance its operational capabilities.

The growing roles and responsibilities of the Royal Saudi Navy have necessitated the need for well-trained military personnel and greater exposure to global practices and training.

The Indian Navy's capabilities and prowess are on display for all to see, especially, in the complex and long-drawn operations that are undertaken far from home shores. The anti-piracy operation undertaken onboard the MV Ruen, leading to the arrest of 35 pirates and the release of 17 hostages, witnessed the impressive levels of coordination between Indian Naval surface assets, air assets, and the personnel and military leaders involved. Such operations stand testimony to the rigorous training and professional standards that are being imparted at Indian defence training institutions and facilities. Therefore, it is only natural that more friendly foreign nations collaborate with Indian armed forces on joint training and joint exercises.