INS Sudarshini Makes Historic First Visit to Canary Islands, Docks at Las Palmas
During the stay, the Commanding Officer of INS Sudarshini is scheduled to engage with Spanish naval authorities to deepen professional exchanges.
Maiden port call marks new milestone in India–Spain maritime engagement under Lokayan 26 deployment
New Delhi: In a historic first, the Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini arrived at Las Palmas in Spain’s Canary Islands on April 23, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian naval vessel to the archipelago.
The visit is part of the ship’s ongoing transoceanic deployment under Lokayan 26 and serves as a strategic halt before it embarks on a trans-Atlantic voyage. The port call highlights expanding maritime cooperation between India and Spain while reinforcing India’s global naval outreach, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Friday.
During the stay, the Commanding Officer of INS Sudarshini is scheduled to engage with Spanish naval authorities to deepen professional exchanges. The ship will also be open to visitors, fostering people-to-people connections with the local Spanish community and the Indian diaspora.
Since departing Kochi in January 2026, the vessel has made port calls across multiple regions, including Oman, Egypt, Malta, France, and Morocco, carrying forward the message of global unity rooted in the Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
Looking ahead, INS Sudarshini will undertake a long trans-Atlantic passage to participate in the Sail 250 commemorative events in the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. The deployment underscores India’s commitment to maritime diplomacy, training excellence, and strengthening international naval partnerships.
