As part of India’s ongoing Lokayan 26 maritime expedition, the Indian Navy’s prestigious sail training vessel INS Sudarshini has concluded its four-day official port visit to Antigua and departed the island nation, advancing collaborative maritime engagement between New Delhi and the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
During the ship’s stopover, the vessel opened its decks to a series of high-level diplomatic and military engagements, welcoming a host of top Antiguan dignitaries including Gaston Browne, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. Complementing the prime minister’s visit, the commanding officer of INS Sudarshini held formal working-level talks with Brigadier Telbert Benjamin, Chief of Defence Staff of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, to discuss areas of mutual maritime interest.
Beyond high-level meetings, the port call included structured professional exchange sessions between personnel from the Indian Navy and the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, allowing both sides to share insights into maritime operational practices and training protocols. The vessel also opened for public guided tours, giving local communities a rare chance to experience the Indian Navy’s centuries-old sail training traditions and deep maritime heritage firsthand.
India’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that the stopover in Antigua aligns with New Delhi’s broader strategic outreach to the Caribbean region, aimed at forging stronger mutual trust, collaborative maritime partnerships, and people-to-people goodwill with regional nations. Following its departure from Antiguan waters, INS Sudarshini is now en route to the United States, where it is scheduled to take part in a series of national events celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence.