Indian Naval Ship Trikand, a stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, departed from Port Victoria, Seychelles, on March 20, 2026, following an enriching port call that underscored India’s deepening defence cooperation with the island nation.
During the visit, Captain Sachin Kulkarni, Commanding Officer of the ship, called on senior government functionaries and the High Commissioner of India to Seychelles. In a gesture of collaborative partnership, the ship also handed over critical spares and essential stores to the Government of Seychelles.
The port call coincided with INS Trikand’s participation in the first tri-services edition of Exercise Lamitiye 2026, alongside contingents from the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, as well as the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF). The exercise marked the maiden participation of the Indian Navy in Lamitiye, reflecting a significant milestone in joint military engagement between the two nations.
During the harbour phase, Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) training was conducted onboard the ship, which included joint boarding drills. The sea phase that followed saw the ship exercise with SCGS Le Vigilant, with joint boarding operations at sea carried out by a team comprising Indian Navy Marine Commandos and Special Forces of the SDF. Subsequently, Army troops from the Indian Army and the Seychelles Defence Forces conducted landing operations on Praslin Island.
Maj Gen Michael Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces, SDF, along with Brig Jean Attala, Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, SDF, and other senior officers embarked INS Trikand during the sea phase to witness the conduct of the exercise.
Exercise Lamitiye, which means ‘friendship’ in Creole, provided a valuable opportunity to enhance interoperability and strengthen maritime cooperation between India and Seychelles, reaffirming the historic ties between the two nations.
The port call aligns with India’s vision of MAHASAGAR or Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. It also reinforces the Indian Navy’s commitment to remain the Preferred Security Partner and First Responder in the Indian Ocean Region.