Indian Warships Visit Marshall Islands

Indian Naval Ship Satpura has arrived at Port Majuro, Marshall Islands on a two day visit, for an operational turn around as part of its deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean.

The Marshall Islands are a sprawling chain of volcanic islands and coral atolls in the central Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and the Philippines.

The Marshall Islands is an island country located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the International Date Line. Geographically, the country is part of the larger island group of Micronesia.

The ship is enroute to India after participation in Exercise RIMPAC-16, which is the largest multilateral naval exercise in the world, conducted biennially by the US Navy off the Hawaiian Coast.

Indian Naval personnel will have professional interaction with the Republic of Marshall Islands police forces, towards further enhancing co-operation between the two countries.

Calls on senior Government and military authorities, sporting and cultural interactions, aimed at strengthening ties and mutual understanding between the two countries, are also planned.

Background:

Bilateral relations between India and Republic of Marshall Islands have developed over the years through bilateral visits and interactions at various international forums.

Republic of Marshall Islands voted in favour of India’s non-permanent seat of the UNSC for the year 2011-12 and also supported the G-4 short resolution on UNSC reforms.

India is engaged in capacity building and human resource development of the Island nation, especially in education and health sector, through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme.

The current visit, the first ever by an Indian Ship, seeks to further build on the growing bilateral interaction, and underscore the close ties between India and the Republic of Marshall Islands.