Overview

• The Indian Navy's INS Sunayna returned to Kochi on May 8, marking the successful completion of its month-long IOS Sagar mission across the southwest Indian Ocean Region.
• The mission, flagged off by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on April 5 from Karwar, was jointly crewed by Indian Navy personnel and sailors from nine Indian Ocean Region nations.
• Key activities included port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria, and Male, alongside joint naval exercises, cultural exchanges, and EEZ surveillance with Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles.
• The deployment featured participation in the Africa India Key Maritime Exercise 2025 (AIKEYME 2025), co-hosted by India and Tanzania, to enhance interoperability and regional cooperation.
• The mission reinforced India's role as a 'First Responder' and 'Preferred Security Partner' in the Indian Ocean Region, advancing the strategic MAHASAGAR initiative for collective maritime security.