The second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) concluded at Subic Bay in the Philippines after a week of drills that ran from September 28 to October 2, bringing together the Indian Navy and maritime forces from ASEAN member states.

Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish participated under the theme “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea”. The exercise opened with a ceremony attended by India’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Harsh Kumar Jain, as guest of honour.

The harbour phase featured subject matter expert exchanges, sporting and cultural activities, community outreach and operational synchronisation. The sea phase then saw coordinated maritime security operations, joint training serials and helicopter cross-deck landings off Zambales province.

AIME-2026 serves as a capstone activity for the declaration of 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation. It advances India’s Act East Policy and its MAHASAGAR vision for security and growth across the Indo-Pacific, deepening practical interoperability between India and Southeast Asian navies.