"Bilateral naval exercises have become key instruments of India's defence diplomacy." Discuss with reference to recent India–UK maritime cooperation.

Defence diplomacy is the peaceful use of armed forces to build trust and partnerships. On 11 October 2026, the guided missile stealth frigate INS Trishul arrived at Plymouth for KONKAN-26 (08–15 October), the annual exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy [1]. Exercises like this have become a core tool of Indian statecraft.

Naval exercises as tools of diplomacy

• Interoperability: The Sea Phase covers air, surface and sub-surface drills. These include cross-deck landings, air defence and anti-submarine serials [1].
• Strategic signalling: The exercise reaffirms a shared commitment to "secure, open and free seas", which is the language of a rules-based maritime order [1].
• Long-range reach: Sending a frigate to UK waters tests whether the Indian Navy can operate on its own beyond the Indian Ocean [1].
• Soft power: The Harbour Phase includes sports fixtures, cultural engagements and an open ship for visitors [1].
• Wider networks: KONKAN-25 paired INS Vikrant's carrier battle group with the UK Carrier Strike Group led by HMS Prince of Wales. The UK group included Norwegian and Japanese ships [2].

India–UK: from drills to strategic partnership

• KONKAN-26 reflects the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership set out in India-UK Vision 2035 [1]. Both Prime Ministers endorsed the Vision on 24 July 2025, and defence and security is one of its pillars [3].
• The Vision adds a 10-year Defence Industrial Roadmap and a Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence under the IPOI. The Centre will help Indian Ocean countries deal with threats such as piracy [3].

Limitations

• One week at a time: The size of each edition changes with the host and the ships available. KONKAN-25 had two carrier groups [2], while KONKAN-26 has one frigate [1].
• Drills are not co-production: Jointly developing jet and ship engines needs agreement on sharing technology, which moves much more slowly.
• Optics over outcomes: Without follow-up, exercises can remain symbolic.

Overall, KONKAN shows how naval exercises turn diplomatic goodwill into practical trust at sea. Their full value depends on linking them to the industrial and capacity-building goals of Vision 2035. Doing so would advance India's MAHASAGAR outlook and its aim of being a net security provider in a free and open Indo-Pacific.