**Summary:**
On August 30, 2025, the Indian Navy's indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette, INS Kadmatt, arrived in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG), to participate in the nation's 50th Independence Day celebrations. This visit underscores the increasing friendship and maritime partnership between India and PNG. Aligned with India's Act East Policy, the goodwill visit aims to strengthen engagement with Pacific Island nations and foster peace, stability, and inclusive growth in the Indo-Pacific region.
Key activities include INS Kadmatt's participation in PNG's official Independence Day Parade and cultural events, highlighting shared democratic values and heritage. The ship's crew will collaborate with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) to identify opportunities for cooperation in maritime security, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. The PNG Chief of Defence Forces will be hosted onboard to observe the Indian Navy's progress in defense self-reliance ("Aatma Nirbharta").
This visit builds upon the momentum from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to PNG in 2023, during which both countries pledged to strengthen bilateral relations, expand development partnerships, and enhance defense cooperation. The Indian Navy is dedicated to its diplomatic role through goodwill port calls, capacity-building initiatives, and collaborative maritime efforts, fostering international cooperation.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Navy: The naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces.
Port Moresby: The capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea: An independent state in Oceania.
INS Kadmatt: An indigenous ASW Corvette of the Indian Navy.
Act East Policy: An initiative by the Indian government to promote economic, strategic and cultural relations with the Asia-Pacific region.
IndoPacific region: A geopolitical region encompassing the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Papua New Guinea Defence Force: The military organization responsible for the defence of Papua New Guinea.
Narendra Modi: The Prime Minister of India.
Ministry of Defence
INDIAN NAVY WARSHIP VISITS PORT MORESBY
TO JOIN PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S 50TH
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS
Posted On: 30 AUG 2025 5:40PM by PIB Delhi
The Indian Navy's indigenous ASW Corvette INS Kadmatt arrived at Port Moresby today to participate in
Papua New Guinea's 50th Independence Day celebrations, reaffirming the growing friendship and maritime
partnership between India and Papua New Guinea. The goodwill 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 visit also follows the momentum created by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri 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. The Indian Navy remains
steadfast in fulfilling its diplomatic role of building ‘Bridges of Friendship’, connecting nations through
goodwill port calls, capacity-building initiatives and collaborative maritime efforts.__________________________________________________________________
VM/SPS 171/25
(Release ID: 2162270)