NEW DELHI, November 3: In the space of a week, India’s armed forces have held engagements with three Indo-Pacific partners. An Indian frigate finished a bilateral exercise with the South Korean navy at Busan, India and the United States opened their Tiger Triumph disaster-relief exercise at Visakhapatnam, and the Indian and Sri Lankan coast guards met at Mirissa on Tuesday, according to Defence Ministry releases.
Key highlights
- South Korea: INS Sahyadri completed the India–Republic of Korea Navy bilateral exercise at Busan on October 29, sailing with ROKS Munmu the Great.
- United States: the fifth Tiger Triumph, a tri-service humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise, opened on November 2 at the Maritime Warfare Centre in Visakhapatnam. It is a tabletop exercise this year, and the NDRF is taking part for the first time.
- Sri Lanka: the ninth High-Level Meeting between the Indian Coast Guard and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard was held at Mirissa on November 3.
The three engagements
| Partner | Event | Where and when | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | IN–RoKN bilateral exercise | Busan; concluded October 29 | Harbour talks and visits, then coordinated navigation, helicopter operations and joint manoeuvres at sea |
| United States | Tiger Triumph 2026 (fifth edition) | Visakhapatnam; opened November 2 | Planning and coordination for large-scale disaster relief; Combined Joint All-Domain Operations |
| Sri Lanka | ICG–SLCG 9th High-Level Meeting | Mirissa; November 3 | Marine pollution response, search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, capacity building |
Who took part
The Tiger Triumph opening was presided over by Rear Admiral Vishal Bishnoi, Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Fleet, and Rear Admiral Joaquin J. Martinez de Pinillos, Vice Commander of the US Pacific Fleet. India’s side includes specialists from the Navy, ground forces from the Army, Air Force units and special forces from all three services. The US joint force includes specialists in space, cyber, medicine and explosive ordnance disposal, along with Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy members.
At Mirissa, the Indian delegation was led by Coast Guard Director General Paramesh Sivamani and the Sri Lankan side by Rear Admiral Ruwan Rupasena, Director General of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard.
Our calculation
- Three partners, six days: the Busan exercise ended on October 29 and the Mirissa meeting took place on November 3.
- Three formats: one sea exercise, one tabletop planning exercise and one policy-level meeting.
- A first: the NDRF’s entry into Tiger Triumph adds India’s main civilian disaster-response force to a military exercise with the US.
What it means
The week shows how India spreads its maritime ties across the region: high-end naval cooperation with South Korea in the north-west Pacific, joint disaster planning with the US, and practical coast guard work with its closest neighbour at sea. The emphasis on search and rescue, pollution response and disaster relief also fits India’s pitch to be the first responder in the Indian Ocean. In a separate operation announced the same day, the Navy freed the hijacked fishing vessel Azini off Somalia.
What to watch
- The rest of Tiger Triumph 2026 and any joint statement at its close.
- Follow-up training or capacity-building projects agreed between the two coast guards.
- Further India–South Korea naval engagements as defence ties grow.
File photo: INS Sahyadri entering harbour. Image: Indian Navy, Government Open Data Licence – India, via Wikimedia Commons. Photo source · Licence
Sources
- PIB (Ministry of Defence): INS Sahyadri concludes India–Republic of Korea Navy bilateral exercise at Busan (November 3, 2026)
- PIB (Ministry of Defence): Opening ceremony of Exercise Tiger Triumph 2026 (November 3, 2026)
- PIB (Ministry of Defence): Indian Coast Guard and Sri Lanka Coast Guard hold 9th High-Level Meeting (November 3, 2026)
The International Desk covers world and Asian affairs, diplomacy and conflict, with a focus on what they mean for India. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
