The Indian Navy’s INS Shivalik, part of the Eastern Fleet, has returned to Visakhapatnam after a successful operational deployment to the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

• The deployment, which highlights India’s commitment to regional security. It also involved participation in several important maritime exercises. 
• The deployment was carried out as directed by the Visakhapatnam-based Headquarters Eastern Naval Command (HQENC).
• It was part of India’s ongoing Act East Policy and its broader commitment to the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
• INS Shivalik’s first major exercise during its deployment was the Bilateral Maritime Exercise JIMEX 24 at Yokosuka, Japan. 
• INS Shivalik also took part in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, which took place in Hawaii, USA. RIMPAC is the world’s largest international maritime exercise.