India has announced the donation of naval spare parts to Mozambique's navy, aimed at extending the operational lifespan of interceptor boats and rapid-intervention vessels deployed in maritime security operations, including in the country's north.

According to a statement published by the Club of Mozambique, the initiative was announced by India's Defence Adviser, Colonel Puneet Attri, during a three-day visit by the Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Varaha to Maputo. The vessel departed on Monday, 9 November, heading to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The spare parts were handed over by Indian High Commissioner Robert Shetkintong to the Commander of the Naval Branch of Mozambique's Armed Defence Forces, Rear Admiral Bernardo Estevão Nchokomala.

Beyond the material assistance, the visit by the vessel — commanded by Captain Rajinder Singh Rana — included joint training exercises with the Mozambican Navy covering navigation, boarding operations, search and rescue, and coordination between vessel command teams.

Representatives from the National Maritime Institute (INAMAR) and the Mozambique Maritime Transport Institute (ITRANSMAR) also participated in a demonstration of maritime pollution response equipment installed aboard the Indian vessel.

In his remarks, High Commissioner Shetkintong highlighted maritime cooperation as one of the pillars of the bilateral defence relationship, underscoring the shared interests of both countries in maintaining peace and security across the Indian Ocean.

Rear Admiral Nchokomala, in turn, thanked India for its support in developing the operational capabilities of Mozambique's naval forces and expressed satisfaction with the expansion and diversification of cooperation between the two countries.

The partnership falls within India's strategic vision known as Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), which guides New Delhi's maritime cooperation policy with countries in the Indian Ocean region.

The visit of the ICGS Varaha forms part of broader efforts to deepen cooperation between Maputo and New Delhi on maritime security, at a time when Mozambique is seeking to strengthen its surveillance and response capacity in its territorial waters.

Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=559815