Bimstec maritime exercise begins in Andaman, 7 nations join regional security drill
Bimstec maritime exercise begins. (Image courtesy: X/@indiannavy)
New Delhi: India’s first integrated triservice command, the Andaman and Nicobar Command, is hosting the inaugural Bimstec maritime security exercise from October 30 to November 3. The five-day exercise brings together all seven member countries to strengthen maritime coordination in the Bay of Bengal.
The Indian Navy on Saturday welcomed Sri Lanka’s SLNS Gajabahu and Myanmar’s UMS King Aung Zeya to Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Announcing their arrival on X, the Navy described the event as the “historic maiden Bimstec Maritime Security Exercise”.
The Navy said the exercise brings together Bay of Bengal littoral states to “build collective resilience against complex transnational security challenges”. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are participating.
The exercise aims to improve interoperability among participating forces and strengthen maritime domain awareness. It will also focus on improving coordination mechanisms and promoting the exchange of best practices among member states.
The Bay of Bengal connects South and Southeast Asia and supports trade, connectivity, energy security and economic growth. The exercise provides a platform for countries in the region to advance cooperation on shared maritime interests.
The command’s capabilities include maritime surveillance, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and rescue, and regional engagement. Its location in the islands also makes it relevant to maritime security efforts in the Bay of Bengal.
The exercise builds on the outcomes of the sixth Bimstec Summit, held under the theme “Bimstec: prosperous, resilient and open”. It provides a practical framework for strengthening maritime cooperation and operational links among participating countries.
Conducted under the theme “shared seas, shared security and shared prosperity”, the exercise reflects the member states’ commitment to a secure, open and inclusive maritime domain. It also advances Bimstec’s objective of “translating vision to action” through cooperation on mutual maritime interests.
