AIME is the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, a naval drill between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The second edition, AIME-2026, was held at Subic Bay in the Philippines from September 28 to October 2, with Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish participating.

The exercise has two phases. The harbour phase covers professional exchanges, expert talks on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, sporting and cultural events, community outreach and operational synchronisation. The sea phase moves to coordinated drills: maritime security operations, boarding exercises, helicopter cross-deck landings and medical evacuation serials.

The theme was “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea”. AIME-2026 was the capstone activity of the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, declared for 2026.

The exercise sits inside two Indian frameworks. The Act East Policy deepens India’s engagement with Southeast Asia. MAHASAGAR, or Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions, is India’s vision for maritime cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. Together, they signal India’s push for practical naval interoperability in contested waters.