Indian navy ships dock in Papua New Guinea as interest in Pacific sharpens

Two Indian navy ships, the INS Kolkata and the INS Sahyadri, have docked in the capital of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, for two days. The visit aims to “enhance maritime cooperation and security in the region”. The ships will go on to join naval exercises with Japan, Australia, and the US, known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad. The visit follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in May and comes amid rising concern about China’s increasing influence in the Pacific region. China is PNG’s largest trading partner.