Three Indian Navy (IN) ships anchored at the Port of Manila on Sunday, May 19, for a four-day goodwill visit aimed at improving the military cooperation and cultural harmony between the two countries.
The Philippine Navy (PN) accorded a welcome ceremony to INS Delhi (D61), the lead ship of her class of guided-missile destroyers; INS Shakti (A57), a Deepak-class fleet tanker; and INS Kiltan, (P30), an anti-submarine warfare corvette.
Commodore Socrates Daza, commander of the PN Sealift Amphibious Force, welcomed the IN delegates who are rendering the goodwill visit until Wednesday, May 22.
"The two nations share common interests particularly in maintaining peace and order in the Indo-Pacific Region. The Indian Navy and Philippine Navy share strong bonds of friendship and both have endeavored to participate in Maritime Partnership Exercises at every available opportunity," Rear Adm. Rajesh Dhankhar, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy, said.
Meanwhile, the PN considers the goodwill visit as a “regular engagement with the goal to strengthen relations between the navies of the Philippines and India.”
This year's visit by the IN ships will feature friendly games, shipboard and shipyard tours, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs), and community engagements.
It will conclude in a Passing Exercise (PASSEX), all geared toward promoting cultural harmony, cooperation, and enhancement of interoperability and communication, the PN noted.
The visit came as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) received the Indian missile system BrahMos last month.
The BrahMos, deemed as the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world, will be integrated into the system of the Philippine Marine Corps.