Indian Navy’s indigenous ASW Corvette INS Kadmatt arrived at Port Moresby today to participate in Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) 50th Independence Day celebrations. The Ministry of Defence in a statement said that the visit symbolises India’s commitment to strengthening its engagement with Pacific Island nations under the Act East Policy and promoting peace, stability, and inclusive growth in the Indo-Pacific region.The key highlights of the visit include participation of INS Kadmatt in PNG’s official Independence Day Parade and cultural events thereby honouring the shared democratic values and heritage of both nations. The ship’s crew will engage with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGFD) to explore avenues for cooperation in maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The ship will host the PNG Chief of Defence Forces onboard to showcase Indian Navy’s journey of Aatma Nirbharta in defence. The Ministry said that the visit also follows the momentum created by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to Papua New Guinea in 2023, where both nations committed to deepening bilateral relations, expanding development partnerships and enhancing defence cooperation.
