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India and ASEAN have stepped up maritime engagement in the Indo-Pacific with the launch of the second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) at Subic Bay in the Philippines, as New Delhi continues to deepen practical cooperation with Southeast Asian maritime forces.
The exercise, which began on September 28, brings together Indian Navy warships INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish and maritime forces from ASEAN member states. It is being conducted under the theme “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea.”
The exercise is significant for India’s broader maritime outreach to ASEAN, with the participating forces scheduled to undertake professional exchanges, operational coordination and joint activities both ashore and at sea.
The harbour phase will include subject matter expert exchanges, sporting and cultural activities, community engagement and operational synchronisation. A pre-sail briefing will precede the transition to the sea phase.
The sea phase will involve coordinated maritime exercises and operational serials aimed at improving operational coordination, professional understanding and interoperability among the participating forces through practical training at sea.
For the Indian Navy, the deployment of INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish provides an opportunity to reinforce maritime links with ASEAN partners at a time when India is expanding its engagement with countries across the Indo-Pacific.
The exercise is being conducted in furtherance of India’s Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR vision, under which New Delhi has sought to strengthen maritime cooperation, connectivity and security partnerships with countries in the wider Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions.
AIME-2026 also adds to the expanding pattern of Indian naval engagement with Southeast Asian countries through exercises, ship visits, operational exchanges and capacity-building activities, reflecting the growing importance of ASEAN in India’s maritime outreach.
Team BharatShakti
