The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is set to host the inaugural BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise beginning 30 October 2026 at Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair), marking the first time the seven-nation grouping has launched a dedicated multilateral naval drill in the Bay of Bengal. The four-day exercise, running through 2 November 2026, will bring together naval assets and officials from across South Asia and Southeast Asia to sharpen collective readiness at sea.

Participating Nations and Format

Naval assets from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand will participate directly in the exercise. Bhutan and Nepal — both landlocked nations that are heavily dependent on the Bay of Bengal for EXIM trade — will send representatives to observe and engage in planning sessions.

The exercise is structured in two phases. A harbour phase will focus on professional exchanges and joint planning to build trust and interoperability frameworks, while a subsequent sea phase will test coordinated operations on the water. According to the ANC, 'together they turn a common vision for a safe, secure and stable Bay into coordinated action at sea.'

Key Objectives of the Drill

The exercise targets five core areas: enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), building operational coordination across the Bay of Bengal, strengthening regional security cooperation, improving Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities, and developing responses to cross-border maritime crimes and marine pollution from oil and hazardous material spills.

Notably, the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Maritime Security Cooperation has already finalised guidelines for maritime law enforcement agencies to ensure effective coordination during at-sea interactions. A BIMSTEC White Shipping Agreement is also under consideration, with India set to present a draft to member states in the near term.

Why the Bay of Bengal Demands Coordinated Action

The Bay of Bengal connects South Asia to Southeast Asia and serves as a critical corridor for global energy and trade flows. The region is also acutely vulnerable to natural disasters — four editions of the BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise have already been held to build joint operational response capabilities.

The exercise comes amid heightened global awareness about maritime transit risks. The crisis in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, has demonstrated how violations of the right of transit passage — enshrined in Article 44 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) — can disrupt trade and destabilise regions. BIMSTEC nations have cited the UNCLOS principle that 'states bordering straits shall not hamper transit passage' as central to their shared maritime vision.

Regional Frameworks Underpinning the Exercise

The exercise builds on the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation, signed at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok in April 2025. Member states are also advancing a regional oil spill response framework, including a regional contingency plan, standardised emergency procedures, and joint pollution response drills.

India has additionally proposed establishing a BIMSTEC Disaster Management Centre to serve as a permanent focal point for coordinating regional HADR operations. The grouping is also pursuing collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). The ANC stated: 'The Bay of Bengal binds our region's security, trade and prosperity... Together, we chart the course for collective maritime wellbeing.'

The inaugural exercise is expected to set a precedent for regular multilateral naval engagement in the Bay of Bengal, with the ANC positioned as the regional hub for maritime security coordination under the BIMSTEC framework.