{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Navies of 26 Nations Join Hands in Kochi as India Takes the Lead in New Maritime Drill",
  "summary": "The Indian Navy has launched the four day 'Operation Southern Readiness 26-2' in Kochi with 26 partner nations, a command it currently holds under the Combined Maritime Force.",
  "content": "In the port city of Kochi, India has just kicked off one of its most ambitious maritime training efforts yet, and this time it is not going at it alone. The Indian Navy has launched Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a joint exercise that has brought together naval personnel from 26 countries under one roof, marking the first time India is hosting an exercise of this scale under the Combined Maritime Force framework.\n\nA four day program with a clear timeline\nRunning from 20 July to 23 July, the drill is being conducted under the banner of the Combined Maritime Force, or CMF, a coalition that works to strengthen maritime security by bringing together navies from across the world. For India, hosting a CMF program of this size on its own soil for the first time is being seen as a significant milestone.\n\nNot about warships, this is about building skills\nNaval exercises usually make headlines for warships, missiles and combat drills at sea, but this one is built differently. Operation Southern Readiness is essentially a professional training program aimed at sharpening the skills of naval personnel so they can respond to the changing nature of threats at sea. Officers from participating nations are being trained in maritime law, techniques to monitor activity at sea, intelligence sharing methods, curbing drug trafficking, protecting maritime installations, and countering newer dangers such as drone attacks.\n\nWhy Kochi was picked as the venue\nThe choice of Kochi for this exercise is far from accidental. The city is home to the Southern Naval Command, widely regarded as the Indian Navy's most important training hub. Its modern simulators, training facilities and maritime infrastructure make it well suited to host an international program of this scale. That is why 254 naval representatives from 26 countries, along with 74 trainers and subject experts, delegates from four international organisations and several maritime security specialists have all gathered there.\n\nThe command sits with India, and that is the real story\nWhat makes this exercise stand out is that it is being conducted under Combined Task Force 154, or CTF-154, which is currently commanded by the Indian Navy. CTF-154 functions as the training arm of the Combined Maritime Force, preparing navies from different countries to handle maritime security challenges. India leading a training program of this scale is being read as clear evidence of New Delhi's expanding role in the global maritime order.\n\nDrones and cyberattacks are the new sea threats\nMaritime security challenges today look nothing like they used to. Piracy alone is no longer the main worry. Arms and drug smuggling, human trafficking, illegal fishing, drone strikes and cyberattacks are all emerging as fast growing concerns. The Indian Ocean remains one of the world's busiest and most important shipping corridors, carrying a huge share of global trade and energy supplies. That makes securing these waters a global necessity rather than just a regional one. Through Operation Southern Readiness, India is signalling that maritime threats of the future can only be tackled through partnership and cooperation, not in isolation.\n\nIndia has a track record of joint naval drills\nThis is not the first time India has partnered with other navies for joint training. In recent years, exercises such as MILAN, Malabar, Varuna, SIMBEX and AUSINDEX have helped India deepen ties with friendly nations. India has also continued to play an active role in capacity building and training efforts across the Indian Ocean region.\n\nIndia's navy is now more than just a coastal guard\nThis exercise reflects a broader shift, the Indian Navy's mandate is no longer confined to protecting its own coastline. India is increasingly positioning itself as a key partner that trains friendly navies, shares operational experience and strengthens regional security frameworks. With the seas turning into a new arena for strategic competition amid shifting global dynamics, this Kochi based exercise is being viewed as an important step both for India's maritime strategy and its wider global influence.\n\nWhat this means for you\n• Across India: The exercise shows India taking on a bigger global role in Indian Ocean security, strengthening its diplomatic and strategic standing.\n• In Kochi, Kerala: The four day event will bring a larger presence of naval delegations from 26 countries into the city, which could affect local security deployment and traffic arrangements.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. What is Operation Southern Readiness 26-2?\nIt is a four day multinational maritime training exercise launched by the Indian Navy in Kochi, with navies from 26 countries taking part.\n\n2. When does the exercise run?\nIt runs from 20 July to 23 July.\n\n3. How many people are participating?\n254 naval representatives from 26 countries, 74 trainers and experts, delegates from four international organisations and several other specialists are involved.\n\n4. Who commands this exercise?\nIt is being held under Combined Task Force 154, or CTF-154, which is currently commanded by the Indian Navy.\n\n5. Why was Kochi chosen for this event?\nKochi hosts the Southern Naval Command, the Indian Navy's premier training hub with modern simulators and maritime infrastructure.\n\n6. What kind of training is being given?\nOfficers are being trained in maritime law, surveillance techniques, intelligence sharing, anti-smuggling operations, protection of maritime installations and countering drone threats.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/national/kochchi-ki-khari-men-26-deshon-ke-nausainikon-ka-mahajutana-india-bana-aguva-9899",
  "category": "India",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-22",
  "tags": [
    "Operation Southern Readiness",
    "Indian Navy",
    "Kochi",
    "Indian Ocean",
    "Combined Maritime Force",
    "Maritime Security",
    "CTF-154",
    "Naval Exercise"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}