The 41st edition of the coordinated patrol (CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy concluded recently after a week-long exercise in the Andaman Sea, reaffirming the growing maritime partnership between India and Thailand. Conducted from February 28 to March 6, 2026, the exercise highlighted the increasing operational synergy between the two navies and underscored their shared commitment to maintaining security and stability in the region.
The Indian contingent included ships from the Andaman and Nicobar Command—the indigenously built anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kora and the fast attack craft INS Chetlat. Representing Thailand was the offshore patrol vessel HTMS Krabi. These platforms participated in both harbour and sea phases of the exercise, aimed at strengthening coordination, communication, and interoperability between the two maritime forces.The harbour phase took place at Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Activities included professional exchanges, cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, yoga sessions, and social interactions. Such engagements are designed not only to enhance operational understanding but also to build personal rapport among sailors and officers—an often overlooked yet vital component of effective multinational maritime cooperation.
Following the harbour interactions, the sea phase unfolded in the Andaman Sea. The participating ships carried out coordinated manoeuvres, communication drills, and maritime security operations. These exercises are structured to improve the two navies’ ability to jointly address transnational maritime challenges such as illegal fishing, piracy, smuggling, and search-and-rescue contingencies. The sea phase culminated at Phuket, symbolically reinforcing the close maritime ties between the two neighbours.The CORPAT mechanism between India and Thailand has evolved into a key pillar of bilateral defence cooperation. Regular coordinated patrols help ensure effective surveillance along the International Maritime Boundary Line and contribute to maintaining a rules-based maritime order in the eastern Indian Ocean.Strategically, the exercise holds significance within India’s broader maritime outlook in the Indo-Pacific.
The Andaman Sea sits at a critical junction connecting the Bay of Bengal with the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors. Enhanced cooperation between India and Thailand thus contributes to safeguarding sea lines of communication that are vital for regional trade and energy flows.Beyond tactical training, the exercise reflects a broader convergence of strategic interests. As maritime challenges grow increasingly complex in the Indo-Pacific, initiatives such as CORPAT demonstrate how regional navies can collaborate to ensure collective security. The successful conduct of the 41st edition underscores the enduring maritime partnership between India and Thailand and signals continued momentum in defence cooperation between the two countries.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.