Singapore, India and Thailand Conclude Trilateral Maritime Exercise, Reaffirming Long-Standing Defence Relations

Deputy Fleet Commander Colonel Ng Yen Meng at the opening ceremony with commanders from the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy.

Commanding Officer of RSS Dauntless, Lieutenant Colonel Er Jin Kiat, with the Boarding Officer from INS Karmuk onboard RSS Dauntless after the Boarding Exercise.

RSN personnel participating in the Publication Exercise (PUBEX) during the sea phase of the exercise. During the PUBEX, personnel decrypt coded messages received over radio to test their communication readiness.

Commanding Officer of RSS Dauntless, Lieutenant Colonel Er Jin Kiat at the closing ceremony with commanders of INS Karmuk and HTMS Krabi.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Indian Navy (IN) and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) conducted the 5th Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise (SITMEX) from 24 to 29 November 2025. The RSN deployed its Independence-class littoral mission vessel RSS Dauntless, while the IN deployed its Kora-class corvette INS Karmuk, and the RTN deployed its Krabi-class offshore patrol vessel HTMS Krabi.

As the host for this year’s SITMEX, the RSN led the planning and conduct of the exercise. The shore phase of the exercise, consisting of professional exchanges and a sports event, were conducted at RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base. This was followed by a sea phase involving serials such as communications exercise, boarding operations, photo exercise, and a live firing exercise in the Andaman Sea.

During the closing ceremony, commander of the exercise task group and Commanding Officer of RSS Dauntless, Lieutenant Colonel Er Jin Kiat highlighted the value of the trilateral exercise and said, “As maritime challenges continue to grow more complex, exercises like SITMEX remain vital. The threats we face are increasingly transnational and dynamic, and no navy can address them alone. When Singapore, India, and Thailand bring our strengths together, we reinforce our commitment to safe and open sea lanes and contribute to a stable maritime environment in the Indo-Pacific." He added, “SITMEX 2025 has once again shown the strength and resilience of our trilateral partnership. The trust we build through transparent dialogue, close coordination, and realistic training will continue to guide us as we navigate future challenges.”

First conducted in 2019, the exercise reaffirms the long-standing defence relationships amongst Singapore, India and Thailand.