In its efforts to enhance cooperation with like-minded countries in the Middle East, the Indian Navy has deployed its frontline warships in Iran and Kuwait. In both Gulf nations, Indian naval vessels are scheduled to participate in bilateral exercises, professional interactions, and the sharing of ideas.
"INS Trikand is on a visit to Bandar Abbas, Iran as part of the Indian Navy's operational deployment towards cooperative maritime engagement with regional countries," India's blue water force said on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter.
"Indian Naval Ship INS Visakhapatnam arrives at Al-Shuwaikh Port, Kuwait for Operational Turn-Around. The visit, aimed at strengthening maritime ties, would have professional interactions and would conclude with a Maritime Partnership Exercise," the Indian Navy added.
Of late, the Gulf region has become a key area of focus for the Indian Navy, particularly from an energy security standpoint.
India, the world's third-largest importer of crude and natural gas, is heavily dependent on the Middle East and Russia for its energy security requirements.
While Moscow has emerged as a key partner in supplying oil to New Delhi with its 44 percent contribution to India's crude basket in the last three months, traditionally, the South Asian country has relied on imports from the Gulf states of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE among others to fulfill its petroleum needs.
In this light, the Indian Navy has taken the lead in partnering with maritime forces of friendly countries and has continuously made attempts to improve relations with them.