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India's New Envoy to Thailand Calls on President Murmu

Indian Ambassador-designate to Thailand Puneet Agrawal called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Indian naval ship INS Sunayna departed Phuket for Jakarta after a three-day operational turnaround. The ship conducted joint exercises and cultural engagements with the Royal Thai Navy. The visit underscored the strong maritime partnership between India and Thailand.

Key Points: India's Ambassador-Designate to Thailand Meets President

  • Puneet Agrawal calls on President Murmu
  • INS Sunayna departs Phuket for Jakarta
  • Naval exercises held with Royal Thai Navy
  • Bilateral maritime cooperation strengthened
2 min read

India's Ambassador-designate to Thailand Puneet Agrawal calls on President Murmu

India's Ambassador-designate to Thailand Puneet Agrawal calls on President Droupadi Murmu; INS Sunayna concludes Thailand visit, strengthens maritime ties.

"IOS SAGAR has now proceeded to Jakarta, Indonesia, for the next port of call - Ministry of Defence"

New Delhi, April 27

The Indian Ambassador-designate to Thailand, Puneet Agrawal, on April 24 called on President Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

According to the X post on Monday.

The development was shared by the Indian Embassy in Thailand on its its official social media X handle, "India in Thailand".

Earlier on April 19, the Ministry of Defence had said that the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR, deployed as INS Sunayna, had departed Phuket, Thailand, and was en route to Jakarta, Indonesia, as part of its ongoing regional mission.

"IOS SAGAR has now proceeded to Jakarta, Indonesia, for the next port of call, continuing her mission to strengthen maritime cooperation in the Southeast Indian Ocean Region," the ministry said in an official press release.

The ship departed Phuket on April 17, following a "high-tempo three-day Operational Turnaround (OTR), marking the successful culmination of her second port call during the ongoing deployment."

During the visit to Phuket, IOS SAGAR undertook a series of professional, strategic and cultural engagements with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), significantly strengthening bilateral naval cooperation. Commander Siddharth Chaudhary, Commanding Officer, INS Sunayna, called on Rear Admiral Sathaporn Wajarat, Chief of Staff of the Third Naval Area Command, RTN, reaffirming a shared commitment towards maritime cooperation.

The deployment featured a mix of professional and cultural engagements, including a friendly football match and a joint yoga session, participated in by crew from IOS Sagar and RTN. A formal deck reception hosted onboard was attended by senior naval dignitaries, facilitating a platform for sharing insights on the IOS Sagar mission and discussions on maritime cooperation and regional security. The ship was opened to visitors, promoting people-to-people connections.

According to the ministry, operational coordination was demonstrated during a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with HTMS Klongyai, which included communication drills and formation manoeuvres, highlighting seamless coordination and "plug-and-play" capability between the two navies.

The ministry said the visit underscored the strong and enduring maritime partnership between India and Thailand, aligned with the MAHASAGAR vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

M
Michelle N
The INS Sunayna's visit to Phuket sounds like a well-coordinated effort. The joint yoga session and football match are nice touches—soft power works wonders in building trust. But I wonder how much of this translates into tangible strategic benefits for India in the long run.
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Priya S
The MAHASAGAR vision is impressive—'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions'. India is really stepping up its maritime diplomacy. The PASSEX exercise with HTMS Klongyai shows our navy can work seamlessly with allies. This is the kind of proactive foreign policy we need.
D
David E
Interesting development, but I wish the article gave more context on what Ambassador Puneet Agrawal's priorities will be in Thailand. Is there a specific agenda, like boosting trade or countering China's influence? The naval cooperation bit is nice, but diplomatic appointments need substance beyond photo ops.
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Sneha F
The cultural exchanges like yoga and football are a great way to build people-to-people ties. Thailand has a large Indian diaspora too, so this could help strengthen community bonds. Hope the new ambassador focuses on easing visa issues for students and professionals traveling between the two countries. ✈️

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