Sri Vijaya Puram, November 6: The first BIMSTEC maritime security exercise has brought naval forces from India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka together in Sri Vijaya Puram, placing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at the centre of a regional effort to strengthen coordination among Bay of Bengal countries. The five-day exercise, held from October 30 to November 3 under the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), involved coordinated maritime operations and engagements aimed at improving interoperability and cooperation among participating navies.
The exercise concluded on November 3 with the participation of five naval vessels: Indian Naval Ships INS Taragiri, INS Karmuk and INS Saryu; Myanmar Navy Ship UMS King Aung Zeya; and Sri Lanka Navy Ship SLNS Gajabahu. Bangladesh was represented by Captain Mohammad Monzurul Islam, Commanding Officer of BNS Prottoy, while senior representatives from BIMSTEC and the participating countries also attended the engagements.
Those present included BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey, National Maritime Security Coordinator and retired Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, Myanmar Navy’s Central Naval Command chief Rear Admiral Kyaw Kyaw Htoo, and retired Air Vice Marshal MDR Prasad, Director (Monitoring and Evaluation) in Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation.
The exercise followed the Delhi Declaration and the outcomes of the fourth BIMSTEC Experts Group Meeting on Maritime Security Cooperation, held in November 2025. It provided participating navies an opportunity to develop operational coordination, exchange professional knowledge and build mutual understanding through joint maritime activities.
The programme comprised harbour and sea phases. During the harbour phase in Sri Vijaya Puram, delegations took part in official engagements, professional interactions and cultural exchanges. The sea phase, conducted off the islands from November 2 to 3, involved coordinated naval deployments and joint operational activities.
For the Andaman and Nicobar Command, India’s only operational tri-service command, hosting the exercise placed it in a regional maritime cooperation initiative involving BIMSTEC member states. Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty, Commander-in-Chief of ANC, heads the command.
The exercise also focused on strengthening cooperation to address shared maritime challenges and protect common maritime interests across the Bay of Bengal. Its conclusion marks the first such exercise under the BIMSTEC framework and provides a basis for further joint initiatives among member states.
The participating countries’ stated vision is a prosperous, resilient and open Bay of Bengal, with sustained maritime engagement forming part of their approach to regional security and stability.
