Indian Naval Ship INS Kadmatt arrived in Fiji on Monday for a three-day goodwill visit. The anti-submarine warfare corvette’s visit facilitated discussions between India and Fiji on maritime security, capacity building, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. The Indian High Commission in Fiji shared on X that during the port call, Cdr Kutuhal Limaye, Commanding Officer of INS Kadmatt, met with Mason Smith, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence & Veteran Affairs, accompanied by Capt Rohit Raymond Kattoju, India’s Defence Adviser to Fiji. The discussions focused on cooperation in maritime security, HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief), and capacity development.

Upon arrival, the High Commission welcomed the ship with the post: "#VeilomaniDosti Bula and Welcome to Fiji! The Indian Navy's anti-submarine warfare corvette, INS Kadmatt, arrives at the Port of Suva as part of its three-day goodwill visit." This visit follows Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka’s trip to India in August. During that visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India’s support to enhance Fiji’s maritime security, including training and equipment assistance, under a broader defence and security cooperation action plan. PM Modi stated: “We have decided to strengthen mutual cooperation in defence and security, with an action plan in place. India will support Fiji in training and equipment for maritime security and share expertise in cybersecurity and data protection.”

Highlighting Fiji’s strategic role in the Pacific, PM Modi described the island nation as a hub for regional cooperation, noting that both countries support a free, open, inclusive, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. He welcomed Fiji’s decision to join India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and praised the vision of “Oceans of Peace.”

The two leaders held comprehensive discussions on bilateral, regional, and global issues. They expressed satisfaction with the growth of India-Fiji relations and reaffirmed their commitment to building a broad-based and forward-looking partnership across sectors including defence, health, agriculture, trade and investment, SMEs, cooperatives, culture, sports, education, and skill development.