INS Vikrant, HMS Prince of Wales Join in Konkan 2025

The Indian Navy and the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy have launched Konkan 2025, the latest edition of their biennial maritime exercise, in the western Indian Ocean region. For the first time in the history of this bilateral drill, carrier strike groups from both nations are participating, marking a significant milestone in Indo-UK naval cooperation.

Exercise Konkan is a long-standing bilateral naval drill between India and the UK, initiated in 1996, designed to enhance operational readiness, improve tactical coordination, and strengthen interoperability between the two navies. Over the years, it has evolved from basic seamanship exercises to complex operations including anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, air defense drills, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The exercise reflects the enduring strategic and maritime partnership between the two nations.

Leading the UK contingent is the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, while India’s indigenously built INS Vikrant spearheads operations on the Indian side. Scheduled from October 5 to 12, Konkan 2025 aims to reinforce maritime security, uphold a rules-based order in the region, and consolidate bilateral ties through coordinated maneuvers and personnel exchanges.

The exercise is particularly notable given India’s role as a BRICS member and the UK’s membership in NATO, demonstrating that despite differing multilateral affiliations, strategic cooperation between the two nations is inevitable in ensuring regional security and stability.

Coinciding with the exercise, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is visiting India on October 8 and 9 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is Starmer’s first official visit to the country. Both leaders will participate in the sixth edition of the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, delivering keynote addresses and engaging with industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators.

The visit builds on the momentum of Prime Minister Modi’s earlier trip to the UK and reaffirms the shared vision for a forward-looking partnership between the two nations. Analysts note that Konkan 2025 and the high-level diplomatic engagement underscore the growing strategic alignment and mutual commitment to a secure and stable Indo-Pacific region.