India Hosts First-Ever BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
| Event/Highlight | Details |
|---|---|
| First-Ever BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise | Hosted by India in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from October 30 to November 3, 2026. |
| Participating Countries | Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand. |
| Theme | "Shared Seas, Shared Security and Shared Prosperity." |
| Objective | Strengthen maritime cooperation and operational linkages among BIMSTEC members. |
| Structure | - Tabletop Exercise (Days 1-3): Simulated maritime-security scenarios. |
| - Harbour Phase (Days 4-5): Harbour-based activities and professional exchanges. | |
| Major Objectives | - Improve interoperability of maritime forces. |
| - Enhance maritime domain awareness. | |
| - Strengthen coordination mechanisms and information-sharing. | |
| - Promote secure, open, and inclusive maritime environment in the Bay of Bengal. |