Port Victoria/New Delhi, March 20, 2026

Indian Naval Ship Trikand sailed out of Port Victoria on Thursday after a 4 day visit to Seychelles that packed in joint exercises, high level meetings, and a fresh round of defence cooperation between the two countries. The frontline stealth frigate arrived on March 16 and spent the duration of its stay building on what is already one of India’s closest maritime partnerships in the region.

Captain Sachin Kulkarni, Commanding Officer of INS Trikand, met senior Seychellois government officials as well as India’s High Commissioner to Seychelles during the visit. The ship also delivered critical spares and essential stores to the Seychelles government, part of India’s longstanding commitment to supporting its Indian Ocean neighbours with practical, on the ground assistance.

Navy Joins Lamitiye for the First Time

The standout moment of the visit was INS Trikand’s participation in Exercise Lamitiye 2026, and this edition was a milestone. For the first time, the exercise took on a tri services format, bringing together the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) under one joint operational framework. It also marked the Indian Navy’s first-ever involvement in Lamitiye, which takes its name from the Creole word for “friendship.”

The exercise unfolded in two phases. During the harbour phase, Indian and Seychellois personnel conducted Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills aboard INS Trikand, sharpening skills that are central to modern maritime security operations. The sea phase saw INS Trikand operate alongside Seychelles Coast Guard Ship Le Vigilant, with Indian Navy MARCOS and SDF special forces carrying out live joint boarding operations at sea.

On land, Indian Army troops and SDF personnel conducted joint amphibious landing drills on Praslin Island, adding another layer to what was already the most comprehensive edition of Lamitiye to date.

Senior SDF leadership, Chief of Defence Forces Major General Michael Rosette and Deputy Chief Brigadier Jean Attala, came aboard INS Trikand during the sea phase to observe operations firsthand a gesture that speaks to the trust and openness that defines this bilateral relationship.

India’s Indian Ocean Vision in Action

The Seychelles visit is the latest step in India’s MAHASAGAR initiative, short for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions, which guides New Delhi’s approach to building deeper, more resilient partnerships across the Indian Ocean Region. Under this framework, the Indian Navy has positioned itself not just as a regional power, but as a dependable partner and first responder for smaller island nations that rely on a stable and secure maritime environment.

For Seychelles, which depends heavily on safe sea lanes for trade, tourism, and food security, India’s consistent engagement carries real strategic value. And for India, every such visit reinforces its standing as the Indian Ocean’s preferred security partner.. present, reliable, and ready.