India’s stealthy warship INS Trikand made a quick stop in Taranto, Italy, on September 28 as part of its Mediterranean Sea mission, the Indian Navy shared on Thursday.
The crew jumped into action with professional chats and visits across decks with Italian sailors. They swapped tips on best practices and worked on better teamwork between the two navies.
Captain Sachin Kulkarni, who leads INS Trikand, dropped by to meet Rear Admiral Andrea Petroni, head of Italy’s Second Naval Division. This visit shows how much India values its ties with Italy and both countries’ push to boost defense cooperation and maritime partnerships.
Before hitting Italy, INS Trikand docked in Alexandria, Egypt, for Exercise Bright Star 2025, a big drill hosted by Egypt from September 1 to 10. The Indian Ministry of Defence noted that these sessions help share smart strategies to tackle both old-school and new maritime dangers, like piracy or cyber threats.
Bright Star 2025 is a major multinational event run by the US Central Command, covering air, land, and sea ops. It builds regional security, ramps up cooperation, and sharpens skills for messy fights against hybrid threats. Besides India, Egypt, and the US, teams from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy joined in. Indian Army and Air Force units also took part.
The Navy’s spokesperson called it a “bridge of friendship” between India and Egypt in a post on X (formerly Twitter). They wrote: “#IndianNavy stealth frigate #INSTrikand arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, on #01Sep 25 during her ongoing deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. The ship will participate in the @CENTCOM led multinational Exercise #BrightStar2025 co-hosted by Egypt, which will also see participation by contingents from the #IndianArmy and #IndianAirForce. India-Egypt #BridgesofFriendship.”
During the exercise, top military leaders held talks to strengthen everyday connections between people in both countries. Activities included one-on-one and group discussions, deck swaps, cultural events, and even sports matches to build real bonds.
With more port visits ahead in the region, the Indian Navy’s main goal here is to team up with partner countries, share know-how, and improve joint operations in the Mediterranean.
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