On December 27, 2024, the newly commissioned Indian Frigate INS Tushil arrived in Casablanca, Morocco.
Upon arrival, the Ship received a warm welcome from the Royal Moroccan Navy. It will remain in port for two days, during which time the crew will participate in various diplomatic and naval cooperation activities.
Additionally, both navies will conduct a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) at sea to share best practices and enhance interoperability.
Spokesperson Navy posted about the ship’s visit to Casablanca, Morocco, on social media platform X.
INS Tushil is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate. This 125-meter-long and 3900-tonne stealth-guided missile frigate was commissioned on December 09, 2024, by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. The ship is commanded by Captain Peter Varghese and operated by a crew of 250 personnel.
INS Tushil’s maiden voyage to India
The ship departed from Kaliningrad, Russia, on December 17, 2024, for its maiden operational deployment to India. During its journey, the ship will navigate through the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean, making port calls at several friendly countries.
On December 21, 2024, the INS Tushil made a port call at HMS Belfast in London, passing under the iconic Tower Bridge. Commodore R. Bellfield, the Naval Regional Commander (NRC LEE), visited the ship and engaged in discussions about mutual interests with Captain Peter Verghese, the commanding officer of the ship. The vessel was also open for visitors, hosting both the Indian diaspora and the local community.
The ship will engage in joint patrolling and maritime partnership exercises with various naval forces as part of its mission. These port calls and exercises aim to strengthen India’s maritime cooperation with friendly foreign countries and enhance the Indian Navy’s commitment to protecting and safeguarding the seafaring community.
Overview of India-Morocco Relations
Morocco, similar to India, is situated in a unique geographical position, with coastlines along both the Mediterranean and Atlantic Oceans. The relationship between India and Morocco dates back to the 14th century when the renowned traveller and writer Ibn Battuta from Tangier journeyed to India. In modern history, India actively supported Morocco’s independence movement within the United Nations and recognized Morocco on June 20, 1956, immediately after its independence. Diplomatic relations were formally established in 1957. Over the years, India and Morocco have maintained cordial and friendly relations.
Previous Naval Exercises and Port Calls
Indian Naval Ships have been making regular goodwill visits to Morocco. On September 25, 2023, the Indian Naval Ship Sumedha and the Royal Moroccan Naval Ship L.C. Arrahmani (501) conducted a Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX).
On July 26, 2022, INS Tarkash carried out a Maritime Patrol Exercise (MPX) with the Royal Moroccan Naval Ship Hassan-II off the coast of Port Casablanca.
Additionally, INS Tarkash visited Casablanca and Tangier in 2017 and 2019. In August 2021, INS Tabar made a technical port call in Casablanca, during which it conducted a PASSEX exercise with the Royal Moroccan Navy. These exercises have provided the platform to strengthen maritime ties and enhance interoperability between the two navies.
The defense and military cooperation between India and Morocco includes joint military exercises, counter-terrorism initiatives, defense industry collaboration, maritime security efforts, and strategic geopolitical positioning. The joint naval exercises between India and Morocco bolster military capabilities, enhance diplomatic relations, promote regional security, and facilitate economic cooperation.
