INS Talwar Visits Kenya to Strengthen India-Kenya Ties
The Indian Navy’s frontline stealth frigate, INS Talwar, arrived in Mombasa, Kenya, to enhance cooperation between the two nations. The frigate docked in Mombasa on Sunday, aiming to strengthen ties and reaffirm India’s commitment to mutual growth.
Strengthening Naval Cooperation
According to the Ministry of Defence, the navies of Kenya and India will engage in various interactions to bolster cooperation and interoperability. ‘During the ship’s stay in the harbour, personnel from the Kenyan and Indian navies will engage in a wide range of professional interactions and cross-exchange visits to enhance cooperation and bolster interoperability,’ the statement said.
Historical Ties and Economic Collaboration
India and Kenya share a strong bond built on centuries-old historical ties. As geographic neighbours linked by the Indian Ocean, the two nations have strengthened their partnership through regular high-level visits, increasing trade and investment, and extensive people-to-people contact.
Joint Vision Statement
The ‘Joint Vision Statement’ released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto in December 2023 guides maritime cooperation between the two countries. The statement, named ‘BAHARI’ (meaning ‘Ocean’ in Swahili), was released during the Kenyan president’s state visit to India.
INS Talwar’s Role
Commissioned on 18 June 2003, INS Talwar is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, based in Mumbai under the Western Naval Command. The ship, commanded by Captain Jithu George, has a complement of approximately 300 personnel.
Economic Initiatives
In December 2023, India and Kenya held talks to provide USD 250 million to modernize Kenya’s agriculture. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, ‘As two agrarian economies, we agreed to share our experiences. To modernize the agricultural sector of Kenya, we have also decided to provide a line of credit of USD 250 million.’
Additionally, five Memorandums of Understanding were exchanged in areas including sports, Information Technology, and education.
Doubts Revealed
INS Talwar -: INS Talwar is a ship in the Indian Navy. It’s like a big, strong boat that helps protect India and can travel to other countries.
stealth frigate -: A stealth frigate is a type of warship that is designed to be hard to see on radar. This helps it move around without being easily detected.
Mombasa -: Mombasa is a city in Kenya, which is a country in Africa. It’s a place where ships can dock and people can visit.
interoperability -: Interoperability means that different groups, like the navies of India and Kenya, can work well together. They can share information and help each other.
Joint Vision Statement -: A Joint Vision Statement is a plan made by leaders of two countries. It shows what they want to achieve together, like better cooperation and friendship.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi -: Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India. He is the leader of the Indian government.
Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto -: William Samoei Ruto is the President of Kenya. He is the leader of the Kenyan government.
maritime cooperation -: Maritime cooperation means working together on things related to the sea, like protecting ships and trading goods.
economic collaboration -: Economic collaboration means working together to improve business and trade between two countries. It helps both countries grow and prosper.