Archive · 23 Jul 2026
Indian Navy Hosts 27 Nations in Kochi Maritime Exercise
The Indian Navy recently hosted a big exercise called Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 in Kochi.
Navies from 27 countries came together to train and work on making the seas safer.
They practiced things like sharing information, stopping drug trafficking, and handling emergencies at sea.
The exercise was a success and showed how important it is for countries to work together to protect important shipping lanes.
India shared its best practices and training facilities, and everyone involved had a great experience.
Navies from 27 countries participated in a major maritime security exercise hosted by the Indian Navy in Kochi.
The exercise, Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, aimed to improve readiness and interoperability against maritime threats.
Participants trained in maritime information sharing, counter-narcotics, force protection, and asymmetric threats.
India demonstrated its commitment to maritime security by sharing its best practices and training infrastructure.
The exercise generated about 3,800 training man-hours and was praised by participants as a great opportunity for bonding and learning.
- Who
- Navies from 27 countries, including India, and 76 facilitators and experts from four international organisations.
- What
- A major international maritime security exercise called Operation Southern Readiness 26-2.
- When
- The exercise took place over four days, ending on Thursday.
- Where
- The exercise was hosted by the Indian Navy in Kochi, India.
- Why
- To improve readiness and interoperability among partner navies to tackle shared maritime threats such as drug trafficking, piracy, and irregular migration.
India's Maritime Leadership
Global Maritime Cooperation
India's Role
India's Maritime Leadership
India is demonstrating its commitment to maritime security and leadership by hosting the exercise and sharing its best practices and training infrastructure.
Global Maritime Cooperation
The exercise highlights the importance of global cooperation in addressing maritime threats and improving interoperability among navies.
- Exercise Name
- Operation Southern Readiness 26-2
- Host
- Indian Navy
- Location
- Kochi, India
- Duration
- Four days
- Participants
- 276 personnel from 27 countries
- Training Areas
- Maritime domain awareness, maritime law, interdiction operations, search-and-rescue, leadership development
- Training Hours
- 3,800