The Italian Navy conducted a significant PASSEX exercise with India’s latest Project-15B stealth destroyer, INS Surat, under the Operation ASPIDES framework, enhancing EU-India naval cooperation. This exercise included complex maneuvers and training modules aimed at procedural harmonisation and operational trust, showcasing India’s role as a net maritime security provider in the Indo-Pacific. The collaboration not only strengthens maritime security but also emphasizes shared interests in ensuring the stability of critical sea lanes crucial for global trade. Ultimately, this joint initiative reinforces India’s strategic narrative of defending a rules-based international order at sea while fostering deeper ties with European naval forces.