The second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) began on 28 September 2026 at Subic Bay in the Philippines. The Ministry of Defence announced that Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish are taking part alongside maritime forces from all ASEAN member states in a series of coordinated training activities designed to strengthen operational links and mutual understanding between India and Southeast Asian naval forces.
The exercise operates under the theme “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea” and is structured in two main phases: a harbour phase focused on professional interaction and coordination planning, followed by a sea phase involving actual joint operations at sea.
Key facts
- Exercise name: ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026), second edition
- Location: Subic Bay, Philippines
- Commencement date: 28 September 2026
- Indian participation: INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish
- Participating nations: India and all ASEAN member states
- Exercise theme: “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea”
- Opening ceremony attended by Harsh Kumar Jain, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines
What the exercise includes
The harbour phase involves multiple types of engagement between participating navies. These include Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, where officers from different navies share knowledge and best practices. The phase also incorporates sporting and cultural activities aimed at building personal relationships between personnel, community engagement with local populations, and Operational Synchronisation sessions to align procedures and systems before the sea phase begins.
A Pre-Sail Brief will prepare all participants for the transition to actual sea operations. The sea phase then moves into coordinated maritime exercises and operational activities conducted at sea. This second phase focuses on practical training where participating navies practise working together in real maritime scenarios, improving their ability to coordinate actions, communicate effectively and respond to various operational situations as a unified force.
Strategic significance
The exercise forms part of India’s Act East Policy, which aims to strengthen India’s engagement with Southeast Asian nations through economic, cultural and security cooperation. The Ministry of Defence noted that AIME-2026 also furthers the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), a framework focused on regional maritime security and development in the Indian Ocean region.
Indian Navy participation in joint exercises with ASEAN nations demonstrates the service’s commitment to building long-term maritime partnerships in the region. Through repeated coordinated activities, participating navies develop shared understanding of each other’s capabilities, operating procedures and communication protocols, which improves their ability to work together if needed for regional security or humanitarian operations.
What this means for India’s foreign policy
Maritime exercises like AIME serve as practical expressions of diplomatic commitment without requiring formal military alliances. They allow India to deepen security relationships with Southeast Asian neighbours at a time when regional maritime stability and freedom of navigation have become important policy concerns. For the participating ASEAN nations, such exercises provide opportunities to engage with a major maritime power and build professional connections with navies across the region.
The exercise also reflects India’s broader strategy to position itself as a security provider in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian waters, supporting regional stability through cooperation rather than confrontation.