Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship Sarthak, an indigenously designed and built Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), arrived at Suwaikh Port in Kuwait on December 09, 2025, as part of its Overseas Deployment (OSD) to the Gulf region. This maiden port call signifies a new chapter in India–Kuwait maritime engagement and reflects India’s commitment to enhancing regional cooperation under the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.
The visit aims at strengthening existing maritime linkages and reinforcing India’s role as a reliable partner in ensuring safe, secure and clean seas. During the four-day stay in Kuwait, the ship’s crew will undertake a series of professional interactions with the Kuwait Coast Guard and other maritime stakeholders.
The programme includes courtesy calls on senior leadership, familiarisation visits to key maritime facilities, and joint training activities focusing on marine pollution response, maritime search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement. Cultural and sports exchanges, including joint yoga sessions and friendly matches, will further deepen interpersonal bonding and mutual understanding between the maritime forces of both nations.
The arrival of ICG Ship Sarthak comes at a significant moment, following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation in December 2024 during the historic visit of the Prime Minister of India to Kuwait. The MoU has paved the way for expanding defence and maritime collaboration as part of the growing India–Kuwait Strategic Partnership.
The ship’s visit reinforces these shared objectives and demonstrates the commitment of both sides to building stronger operational synergy, enhancing interoperability, and promoting a safe maritime domain in the Gulf. ICG Ship Sarthak will continue its OSD after the Kuwait visit with planned port calls to Iran and Saudi Arabia.
These engagements collectively reflect India’s comprehensive approach to strengthening maritime cooperation across West Asia and advancing regional stability, capacity building and collaborative maritime governance.