Indian Naval Ship Trishul, a guided missile stealth frigate, arrived at Valencia, Spain, on 30 September. The visit is part of her ongoing deployment to the Mediterranean, Atlantic and adjoining maritime regions, the Indian Navy said.
During the port call, the ship will hold professional interactions, cross-deck visits, and sporting and cultural engagements with the Spanish Navy. The Navy says these will let the two sides exchange operational experiences and build mutual understanding.
It describes the visit as part of its sustained maritime engagement with friendly foreign countries and partner navies. The deployment, it said, underscores its commitment to operational readiness, maritime engagement and international outreach, in support of a secure and stable maritime environment.
The leg before Valencia: Exercise Varuna
Earlier in the deployment, Trishul took part in the 24th edition of Exercise Varuna with the French Navy at Toulon. According to reports on the exercise, she arrived there on 22 September, and the annual bilateral exercise included harbour and sea phases.
Revoi reports that the ship was welcomed with a ceremonial water cannon salute, and her commanding officer called on Rear Admiral Mackara Ouk, the French Navy’s Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Operations in the Mediterranean. At sea, Trishul exercised alongside the French Navy’s frigates Forbin and La Fayette, the nuclear attack submarine Suffren, NH90 helicopters and Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft. The drills covered anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, live firing and cross-deck helicopter landings. In harbour, a cultural interaction onboard and a friendly volleyball match with French personnel were also part of the programme.
Before Toulon, a list of recent Indian Navy updates shows Trishul made a port call at Alexandria, Egypt, on 19 September. Her route so far has run from Alexandria to Toulon to Valencia.
Such calls are routine for the Indian Navy, but the schedule is worth noting. Within about two weeks, one ship has moved from Egypt to a bilateral exercise with France and now to a port visit with Spain, showing the Navy’s reach in the western Mediterranean. The Navy has not said how long Trishul will stay in Valencia or where she will go next.
