The first maritime security exercise of BIMSTEC member countries concluded successfully on November 3, 2026, in Sri Vijaya Puram. This exercise was held from October 30 to November 3, 2026, under the supervision of the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
The Andaman and Nicobar Command is India's only operational tri-service command, led by Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty. Naval ships of BIMSTEC member countries participated in this exercise.
Participating Naval Ships and Delegates
According to the Press Information Bureau, the exercise saw participation from Indian Naval Ships INS Taragiri, INS Karmuk, and INS Saryu, Myanmar Naval Ship UMS King Aung Zeya, and Sri Lankan Naval Ship SLNS Gajabahu. In addition, several senior dignitaries and distinguished delegates also took part.
The event was attended by BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey, National Maritime Security Coordinator Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (Retd.), Commander of the Central Naval Command of Myanmar Navy Rear Admiral Kyaw Kyaw Htoo, Air Vice Marshal M.D.R. Prasad (Retd.) of the Ministry of Ports and Aviation of Sri Lanka, and Captain Mohammad Manjurul Islam, Commanding Officer of Bangladesh ship BNS Protoy.
Phases and Objectives of the Exercise
This exercise aligns with the spirit of the 'Delhi Declaration' and takes forward the findings of the 4th BIMSTEC Expert Group Meeting on Maritime Security Cooperation held in November 2025. During the harbour phase held in Sri Vijaya Puram, high-level meetings, professional interactions, and cultural exchange programmes were organised.
This was followed by the sea phase held near Sri Vijaya Puram from November 2 to 3, 2026, which included coordinated maritime deployment and joint operational programmes. The objective of this exercise is to maintain peace, security, and stability in the Bay of Bengal region.