India has reinforced its defence cooperation with Seychelles by donating ship spares to the Seychelles Defence Forces, underlining its commitment to strengthening maritime partnerships in the Indian Ocean region.
The ship spares were handed over by Captain Sachin Kulkarni, Commanding Officer of INS Trikand, which is currently visiting Port Victoria. The visit coincides with India’s participation in the 11th edition of the joint military exercise ‘Lamitye 2026’.
During the visit, Captain Kulkarni also met Seychelles’ Chief of Defence Forces, Major General Michael Rosette, where discussions focused on ongoing cooperation and the role of INS Trikand in the joint exercise.
Exercise Lamitye, meaning “friendship” in the Creole language, is a biennial training engagement between India and Seychelles that has been conducted since 2001. The current edition is being held from March 9 to 20 at the Seychelles Defence Academy.
This year’s exercise marks a significant milestone with the participation of all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces, including personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force. The Indian contingent includes troops from the Assam Regiment, naval assets such as INS Trikand and support from an Indian Air Force C-130 aircraft.
The joint exercise focuses on enhancing cooperation in sub-conventional operations in semi-urban environments, while improving interoperability between the two forces during peacekeeping missions.
Both sides are engaged in a series of coordinated training activities, including tactical drills, field exercises, combat discussions, case studies and demonstrations. The exercise will culminate in a validation phase to assess operational readiness and coordination.
India’s contribution of ship spares reflects its broader MAHASAGAR vision — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — which aims to promote inclusive and cooperative security frameworks in the Indian Ocean region.
The initiative is expected to further strengthen bilateral military ties, enhance mutual understanding and deepen strategic cooperation between India and Seychelles.
