Royal Thai Navy Chief's Strategic Visit to India Bolsters Maritime Ties

Photo Credit: Ministry of Defence, India

On April 1st, 2024, Admiral Adoong Pan-Iam, the esteemed Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, embarked on a significant three-day official visit to New Delhi, India. His arrival marked a momentous occasion for strengthening the naval cooperation between Thailand and India. The visit commenced with a profound interaction with Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff of India, focusing on mutual maritime cooperation, training exchange programs, and information sharing.

Admiral Pan-Iam honored India's fallen heroes with a ceremonial wreath at the National War Memorial, followed by a traditional Guard of Honour by the Indian Navy. His agenda further includes engagements with high-level defense officials such as the Chief of the Defence Staff, Chief of the Air Staff, Defence Secretary, and the National Maritime Security Coordinator, underlining the visit's strategic significance.

A notable aspect of his visit is the emphasis on deepening defense cooperation through meetings with Indian Defence Industries and the Department of Defence Production. Additionally, an interactive session with the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau is planned to discuss shipbuilding trends and explore future collaboration opportunities in ship maintenance and repairs in India.

This visit underscores the long-standing maritime partnership between the two countries, highlighted by biannual Coordinated Patrols since 2005 and the recent inaugural IN-RTN Bilateral Exercise in December 2023. The participation of the Royal Thai Navy ship HTMS Prachup Kheri Khan in MILAN 24 in February 2024, along with both navies' active membership in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), reflects the deep-rooted friendship and collaboration. Admiral Pan-Iam's visit is a testament to the enduring bilateral relations and the mutual commitment to maritime security and cooperation in the region.