India expands maritime footprint in Southeast Asia with INS Kulish’s Cambodia visit

New Delhi: India is expanding its naval outreach in Southeast Asia, with guided missile corvette INS Kulish making a port call at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base as part of the Indian Navy’s eastern fleet operational deployment. The September 12 arrival places the Indian warship at a strategically important Cambodian facility as New Delhi steps up maritime engagement with countries across the Indo-Pacific.

The visit is aimed at building closer working ties between the Indian and the Cambodian navies, with a focus on professional exchanges and greater operational understanding. The ship was received by representatives of the Cambodian navy and officials from the embassy of India in Cambodia.

INS Kulish’s stay will feature professional interactions, familiarization visits, sporting events and structured naval engagements involving personnel from the two countries. The activities are designed to facilitate the exchange of operational experience and strengthen familiarity between the two maritime forces.

Rather than being limited to a ceremonial port call, the engagement provides an opportunity for naval personnel to interact directly on professional and operational matters. Such exchanges can contribute to greater mutual understanding and help build stronger institutional links between regional maritime forces.

The Cambodian deployment comes as the Indian Navy continues to maintain an operational presence across the Indo-Pacific through visits, exercises and engagements with regional partners. These deployments allow India to strengthen defence relationships while reinforcing its role as a security partner in the wider maritime region.

The visit is also aligned with India’s Act East Policy and the Mahasagar vision, which places emphasis on mutual and holistic advancement for security and growth across regions. Through sustained naval engagement, India has sought to deepen cooperation with Southeast Asian countries and support a stable maritime environment.

The Eastern Fleet deployment also highlights the Navy’s broader engagement with Southeast Asian maritime partners. Around the same period, INS Mysore reached Malaysia to participate in the fourth edition of the bilateral naval exercise Samudra Laksamana with the Malaysian navy.

The Malaysian engagement includes harbour and sea-based professional interactions, cross-deck visits and sporting activities aimed at improving interoperability and strengthening operational synergy. Together with the Cambodian port call, the deployments underline the Indian Navy’s expanding engagement with regional navies as India seeks closer maritime partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.

India’s continued naval outreach is centred on building trust, improving professional interoperability and supporting a free, open and inclusive maritime environment across the region.