By: Lt Cdr Devinder Singh
Every year on 4 December, Indian Navy Day gives us a chance to reflect not just on ships, sailors, and operations, but also on the relationships and partnerships, that make the seas safer and the region stronger. This year, as I celebrate Indian Navy Day in Singapore, away from my home shores, the day has a different meaning. Celebrating it here with colleagues from the Republic of Singapore Navy, feels both familiar and special.
A Partnership Anchored in Training
Many Singaporeans may recognise the Indian Navy from ships frequently visiting Changi Naval Base or from the long-running SIMBEX exercise. However, fewer may know that since 1999, India has had a military training presence at SAFTI Military Institute (MI). For 25 years, Indian Navy officers have rotated through, becoming part of the training ecosystem and shaping young RSN officers.
This partnership has matured steadily over time. In classrooms, field exercises, and everyday conversations between instructors and cadets, the India–Singapore defence relationship has grown not through grand gestures, but through shared lessons, mutual respect, and consistent training. For an officer, standing in a SAFTI MI classroom wearing Indian Navy uniform and teaching future RSN leaders reminds us of how intertwined our maritime stories are. It also reflects something Singaporeans understand well: Training builds Trust.
At Sea Together: MSTD
Another vivid example of this trust is the Midshipman Sea Training Deployment (MSTD). Each year, a junior Indian Naval officer joins an RSN ship as midshipmen; budding footsteps towards their sea journey. They train, learn, and navigate together, often forming friendships that last beyond the deployment. Singaporeans appreciate the pride the RSN has in the Midshipman Course. For an Indian officer to be invited into that experience each year shows the confidence built over decades. In 2026, the deployment will take a significant step forward as Indian Navy Instructor deputed at SAFTI will also participate in MSTD. This role is a quiet acknowledgment that both navies trust each other enough to share not just ships and training programs, but also mentorship responsibilities. Collaborating on a ship’s bridge wing while watching midshipmen apply their lessons adds a new layer to our cooperation.
Strengthening Instruction Together
Another important step this year is the opportunity for the Indian Instructor at SAFTI MI to attend the SAF Instructor Course at the Institute of Military Learning. Anyone who has trained in Singapore recognises the SAF’s reputation for clarity, structure, and rigour in teaching. Being invited into that system shows both professional goodwill and a sense of belonging, as Indian officers here are contributors to a shared training environment, and not just guests. While this harmony may seem small at a glance, it has a big impact. It creates a smoother training experience for officer cadets and strengthens the interoperability of both navies long before they operate together at sea.
Why it Matters
These initiatives, participation in MSTD, the SAF Instructor Course, and the ongoing presence at SAFTI Military Institute, may seem just another training engagement when seen from India, but their significance here in Singapore is worth noting. Singapore and India are maritime nations by nature. Both are located near key international sea lanes and rely on the security and freedom of navigation in the high seas. Both countries also view security and stability in the Indo-Pacific as a shared responsibility. When two navies work together in classrooms, on training grounds, and at sea, they do more than exchange skills. They shape generations of officers who instinctively understand each other, officers who, years later, may command ships operating together in real missions.
A Singapore Experience
Serving in Singapore as an Indian Naval Instructor at SAFTI-MI has provided me a close-up view of this partnership. You notice the professionalism of RSN officers, the curiosity of midshipmen eager to learn how another navy approaches the profession of naval sea faring, and the genuine warmth that Singaporeans show to foreign officers living and training among them. As I get ready to join MSTD as an Instructor, I look forward not just to the sea time, but also experience how Singaporean midshipmen put their shore-based learning into practice. It’s a reminder that naval training, whether in India or Singapore, rests on a shared foundation of mentorship, discipline, and respect for the sea.
Celebrating Navy Day from a Different Shore
Observing Indian Navy Day from Singapore underscores a fundamental truth: Naval service extends far beyond Territorial waters. It is about building enduring partnerships, forging trust, and sustaining the security and stability of the maritime domain. The 25-year presence of Indian naval instructors at SAFTI MI is more than a training exchange; it is a tangible symbol of the professional cohesion and mutual confidence between India and Singapore. Navy Day reminds us that the real strength of a Navy is measured not only in ships or firepower, but in the relationships, shared values, and partnerships that safeguard the seas for all nations. To everyone who works at sea, trains those who go to sea, or supports them from home, this day is as much a tribute to their role in keeping our oceans safe, open, and peaceful.
