The successful completion of a three-day port call in Surabaya, Indonesia by the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kadmatt, an indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) corvette, represents yet another important turning point in the development of bilateral naval diplomacy between Indonesia and India.
In addition to being a standard operational engagement, the Ministry of Defense claims that the port call was a concentrated attempt to strengthen maritime cooperation and create long-lasting relationships of trust and interoperability between the Indonesian Navy and the Indian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut, or TNI AL).
In order to foster operational synergy between the two navies, INS Kadmatt hosted a number of cross-deck visits and professional exchanges during its tour.
At the tactical and strategic levels, these organized interactions improved mutual understanding by allowing naval specialists from both sides to exchange viewpoints on maritime security, anti-submarine warfare strategies, and regional issues.
These exchanges are crucial because they can improve both navies’ capacity to work together during joint operations, humanitarian missions, or disaster relief activities in the Indo-Pacific area.
Another important element of the visit was cultural diplomacy. In order to highlight the common practices of discipline and well-being that link Indonesia and India, the crew of INS Kadmatt engaged in a combined yoga session on board.
In addition, the Indian crew and TNI AL staff had a friendly volleyball match, which served as a forum for casual friendship and showed how military-to-military engagement can go beyond business dealings to promote interpersonal relationships.
These sporting and cultural exchanges brought to light the human side of naval diplomacy, which is sometimes disregarded yet is essential to establishing enduring international trust.
INS Kadmatt opened its decks to members of the Indian diaspora living in Indonesia as part of an additional outreach effort. In addition to enhancing the sense of shared identity, this community participation provided expats with a unique chance to connect with their homeland and its naval heritage.
These programs emphasize the Indian Navy’s function as a cultural and national ambassador overseas in addition to its position as a security player.
Senior leadership contacts with senior Indonesian Navy personnel were conducted concurrently as part of courtesy calls. The two countries’ common goal of a safe, stable, and rules-based maritime order in the larger Indo-Pacific was reaffirmed by these discussions.
Recognizing their shared maritime interests in preventing piracy, protecting freedom of navigation, protecting Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs), and responding to humanitarian and disaster situations together, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to cooperating under the cooperative security principle.
Under the same goal of “Partnership Across Sea,” the Ministry of Defense has presented the INS Kadmatt port call as a component of India’s larger Indo-Pacific outreach.
In addition to helping ASEAN countries improve their operational readiness, capacity-building, and collective marine domain awareness, this vision highlights India’s growing position as the preferred security partner for regional navies. The visit highlights the Indian Navy’s willingness to work with friendly foreign forces to ensure safety, stability, and prosperity throughout the region and underlines India’s proactive approach in establishing regional naval ties.
INS Kadmatt successfully concluded its engagements at Surabaya, reinforcing the Indian Navy’s operational capabilities and its diplomatic role as a tool of national soft power.
A comprehensive approach to naval engagement is exemplified by the integration of professional, cultural, and community-based connections, which guarantees the development of mutual trust among the individuals and communities that serve as the cornerstone of India-Indonesia ties as well as at the institutional level.
