ISLAMABAD: Italian Navy ship Morosini visited the southern port city of Karachi on Tuesday to conduct a bilateral exercise with the Pakistan Navy to bolster interoperability between the two forces, a statement from the Pakistan Navy said.
The Italian ship received a warm reception when it arrived in Karachi, with high-ranking Pakistan Navy officials and the Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan, Andreas Ferrarese in attendance, the navy’s media wing said in a statement.
Naval exercises are planned military training activities conducted by the naval forces of different countries. They serve various purposes, including training and readiness of naval personnel, fostering interoperability among different navies, testing equipment, and tactics. These exercises also deter potential adversaries, and prepare for crisis response.
“On the completion of the port visit, Pakistan Navy Ship Shahjahan with an embarked helicopter and [Pakistan Air Force] fighters carried out a sea exercise with the visiting Italian ship to enhance interoperability between both navies,” the statement said.
The maritime exercise was designed to enhance the mutual professional capabilities of both naval forces by fostering cooperation and facilitating the exchange of valuable insights and expertise, the statement added.
In tandem with the ship’s arrival, Vice Admiral Andrea Gueglio, the director of military personnel for the Italian Navy also visited Pakistan during which he met Vice Admiral Muhammad Faisal Abbasi, the commander of the Pakistani fleet.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest and avenues for future collaboration to enhance regional maritime security were discussed,” the statement said.