Strengthening strategic defence ties in the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Navy and Southeast Asian maritime forces have launched the second iteration of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) at Subic Bay in the Philippines, announced PIB.

Operating under the motto "Anchored in Trust, United at Sea", the joint drills aim to foster seamless interoperability and shared maritime domain awareness among participating navies. India's naval presence is anchored by the multi-role stealth frigate INS Sahyadri and the indigenous missile corvette INS Kulish.

Inaugurating the exercise, India’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Harsh Kumar Jain, addressed the international contingents as the Guest of Honour, reiterating that rules-based maritime security and collaborative naval diplomacy are vital for regional stability.

The multilateral exercise is structured into a harbour phase and a sea phase. During the harbour segment, naval personnel are participating in professional subject-matter exchanges, tactical planning sessions, operational synchronisation, and various community and cultural interactions designed to foster camaraderie ahead of the pre-sail brief. Transitioning to the sea phase, ships will carry out joint tactical manoeuvres, communication drills, and operational serials designed to validate common maritime tactics and raise operational preparedness.

This deployed presence of Indian warships reinforces India's broader diplomatic goals. The exercise directly advances New Delhi's Act East Policy while furthering the strategic mandate of MAHASAGAR—an acronym standing for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions—which frames India's vision for collective security and sustainable growth across regional waters.

Agencies