Discuss the role of naval diplomacy in advancing India's Indo-Pacific strategy. How do exercises with diverse partners reflect India's strategic autonomy?

Naval diplomacy means using warships for port calls, exercises and humanitarian drills to build trust and shape the region. It is central to India's MAHASAGAR vision for the Indo-Pacific [2]. In 2026, INS Sahyadri sailed from Subic Bay to Vladivostok, showing how one deployment can serve both India's regional outreach and its independent foreign policy [3][1].

Role of naval diplomacy in India's Indo-Pacific strategy

• Presence and reach: Eastern Fleet deployments extend India's footprint from the South China Sea (Sahyadri's 2025 port call at Kemaman, Malaysia) to the North-West Pacific (Vladivostok) [4][2].
• Supporting ASEAN centrality: Sahyadri and Kulish took part in the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security activity at Subic Bay (Sep 2026), which advances the Act East Policy [3].
• HADR and interoperability: Drills in search and rescue, medical evacuation and communications prepare India to act as a first responder and net security provider [3][1].
• Soft power of Aatmanirbharta: The Indian-built Shivalik-class Sahyadri and the Project 17A frigates Udaygiri and Himgiri showcase Indian shipbuilding [5].
• Carrying out political commitments: PIB linked INDRA-2026 to the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit (Dec 2025) [2][6].

Diverse exercises as an expression of strategic autonomy

• Multi-alignment in one deployment: Within weeks, the same ship worked with ASEAN-led partners at Subic Bay and with Russia's Pacific Fleet at Vladivostok [3][1].
• Calibrated signalling: The INDRA-2026 Sea Phase covered only manoeuvring, helicopter operations and medical evacuation [1]. The 2025 edition included live firings [7]. A lighter menu keeps the Russia tie without alarming Western partners.
• Issue-based partnerships: India drills with Quad navies and with Russia, choosing partners by national interest rather than bloc loyalty.
• Limits: The Navy told the Standing Committee on Defence (2024) that many of its aviation assets are of Russian origin. It therefore still depends on the original manufacturers for spares and needs case-by-case waivers to get them [8]. Summits have promised joint manufacturing of spares under Make in India, but this has not yet happened on the ground [6].

Naval diplomacy gives India reach, partners and credibility across the Indo-Pacific, and exercising with diverse partners puts multi-alignment into practice. To make this autonomy real, India should turn summit pledges into named joint ventures for spares and keep expanding indigenous shipbuilding. A self-reliant navy that works with all partners best serves MAHASAGAR's goal of security and growth for all in the region.