Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti Meets Bahrain PM, Focus on Naval Cooperation and Bilateral Ties
India and Bahrain continued to strengthen their strategic engagement as Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, called on Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa at the historic Riffa Palace on February 10.
According to the Indian Navy spokesperson, discussions focused on deepening bilateral ties and enhancing naval cooperation in areas such as information sharing, joint training, capacity building and future warfare. The meeting reflects the growing maritime collaboration between India and Bahrain amid evolving regional security dynamics.
The visit comes amid sustained diplomatic engagement between the two countries. Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani ahead of the 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by the United States.
In January, the Indian Embassy in Bahrain hosted a reception marking India’s 77th Republic Day, attended by over 400 dignitaries including senior government officials, Members of Parliament and members of the diplomatic corps. Cultural exchanges were also highlighted, including a painting exhibition titled ‘Indo-Bahrain Friendship’.
The strategic partnership was further reinforced in November last year when Jaishankar and Al Zayani co-chaired the 5th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission meeting in New Delhi. The dialogue reviewed cooperation across trade, security, defence, health, culture and people-to-people ties, while also exploring opportunities in space, fintech and cyber sectors.
As Bahrain assumes the presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council, both sides have expressed confidence in further strengthening India-GCC relations. The continued high-level engagements underline the importance both nations attach to maritime security, economic collaboration and regional stability.
Our Thoughts
India-Bahrain ties have steadily evolved from traditional trade links to a broader strategic partnership encompassing defence and maritime cooperation. In a region critical to global energy flows and security dynamics, enhanced naval collaboration signals mutual trust and shared interests. Sustained engagement at both diplomatic and military levels suggests that the partnership will continue to expand in scope and depth.