Admiral Lanba underlines India's deep-rooted security ties with Singapore

Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba on Monday underlined India's deep-rooted security ties with Singapore while speaking at 25th edition of SIMBEX held onboard INS Sahyadri here.

"The naval cooperation through SIMBEX underscores the shared commitment of both nations (India and Singapore) to security, safety, and freedom of navigation and over-flight in the global commons," he said.

Admiral Lanba said that SIMBEX is the longest uninterrupted bilateral maritime exercise that India has had with any navy. The importance of this achievement was also highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Shangri La Dialogue held in June this year.

He concluded by reminding the audience the motto of the Republic of Singapore Navy 'Beyond Horizon' while that of the Indian Navy 'Sam No Varunah' which translates to 'May the Ocean Gods be Auspicious Unto Us.'

Addressing the gathering, Adm Lew Chuen Hong, Chief of the Navy Republic of Singapore Navy referred to the historic maritime links through maritime trade of both the countries dating back to third and fourth century.

He said that Singapore and India are like-minded countries that share similar outlook towards preserving freedom of sea following rules and norms laid down in UNCLOS. He highlighted the special relations that both navies have through substantive interactions. "The cornerstone for Navy-Navy relations is SIMBEX, which stated as a basic anti-submarine exercise in 1994 as 'Lion King' has grown from strength to strength," he said.

A silver jubilee commemoration ceremony to mark the 25th edition of SIMBEX, "Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise" was held onboard INS Sahyadri here on Monday. The ceremony was attended by Admiral Lanba, the Chief of Naval Staff and Rear Admiral Lew Chuen Hong, Chief of the Navy Republic of Singapore, Vice Admiral Karambir Singh FOC-in-C ENC, Flag Officers, Commanding Officers and personnel from participating ships. Rear Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, welcomed the guests to the historic occasion.