In News:

The 12th edition of the Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-25)was held recently, marking another milestone in the two-decade-long maritime cooperation between India and Sri Lanka. The exercise underscores India’s commitment to strengthening regional security in line with its vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

Background

• Initiation: Conceptualised in 2005, SLINEX has emerged as a key bilateral exercise, promoting interoperability and mutual trust.
• Previous edition: Conducted at Visakhapatnam, India in December 2024.

Participants

• India: INS Rana (Guided Missile Destroyer) and INS Jyoti (Fleet Tanker).
• Sri Lanka: SLNS Gajabahu and SLNS Vijayabahu (Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels).
• Special Forces from both navies also took part.

Structure of the Exercise

• Harbour Phase:
  • Professional interactions and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE).
  • Sharing of best practices, cultural and social events, yoga sessions, and sporting activities to strengthen naval camaraderie.
• Sea Phase:Naval drills including gunnery firing, seamanship evolutions, navigation, communication protocols, fueling at sea, and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations.

Significance

• Enhances interoperability between the two navies for multi-faceted maritime operations.
• Facilitates capacity-building and knowledge-sharing in naval tactics.
• Deepens people-to-people and defence diplomacy ties, reinforcing maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Complements India’s broader strategic engagement under MAHASAGAR to promote cooperative security and growth in the region.