Stealth frigate INS Satpura became the first Indian Navy ship to visit Pohnpei, Micronesia as she entered the Pohnpei Port Authority, August 18, on her way back from the international Rim of the Pacific exercise.
The two day visit will serve as an operational turn around, as part of the frigate’s deployment to the Western Pacific, the Navy said.
Bilateral relations between India and Federated States of Micronesia have developed through Small Island Developing States (SIDS) forum of the UN. Further, India conducts regular dialogues with Pacific Islands Forum, of which Federated States of Micronesia is a member. The current visit, the first ever by an Indian Ship, seeks to further build on the growing bilateral interaction, and underscore the close ties between India and the Federated States of Micronesia.
During the visit, the Indian Naval personnel will have interact with the Micronesian division of maritime surveillance towards further enhancing co-operation between the two countries.