2 Indian ships in Singapore for Asean naval drill

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India has sent two frontline warships to take part in the maiden naval exercise with Asean countries, in keeping with the overall policy to further crank up the military outreach to the 10 South East Asian nations with an eye firmly on China.

Guided-missile destroyer INS Delhi and multi-purpose stealth frigate INS Satpura, under the command of the Eastern Fleet commander Rear Admiral Gurcharan Singh, reached Singapore on Monday for the first Asean-India Maritime Exercise from May 2 to 8.

The ‘harbour phase’ of the exercise will be held at the Changi naval base from May 2 to 4, while the sea phase will be conducted on May 7-8 in the contentious South China Sea, where China is locked in territorial disputes with its maritime neighbours. (TOT)