Indian Naval Ship Trishul has arrived at Greece's Souda Bay during its ongoing operational deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, the Ministry of Defence announced on Sunday, November 1.

Source: IANS

During the port call, the ship's crew will participate in activities to further maritime cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Hellenic Navy, including interactions with senior functionaries of the Hellenic Navy and the Indian Embassy in Athens, professional discussions, cross-deck visits and cultural exchanges, according to the Defence Ministry statement carried by IANS.

The crew will also familiarise themselves with facilities at the Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay and the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre (NMIOTC), pay homage at the Souda Bay War Cemetery, and the ship will remain open to visitors during the port call.

A deployment building step by step

The Souda Bay call follows INS Trishul's port call at Civitavecchia, Italy, which concluded on October 29 with professional interactions, cross-deck visits and cultural exchanges with the Italian Navy, ANI reported. Before Italy, the frigate took part in the KONKAN exercise with the United Kingdom's Royal Navy from October 8 to 15.

Source: ANI via LatestLY

"The visit will further consolidate maritime cooperation and strengthen professional linkages between the Indian Navy and the Hellenic Navy," the Defence Ministry statement said. The Greece stop also follows recent high-level defence talks in Athens, where Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met General Dimitrios Choupis, Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, with discussions covering military-to-military ties and strategic cooperation, IANS reported.