Second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise Begins at Subic Bay in the Philippines
The second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) began at Subic Bay, Philippines, on 28 September 2026 under the theme Anchored in Trust, United at Sea, running to 2 October. India is represented by INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish, alongside maritime forces of ASEAN member states. Harsh Kumar Jain, India's Ambassador to the Philippines, was Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony. The exercise has a Harbour Phase of Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, operational synchronisation and community engagement, followed by a Sea Phase of coordinated serials. It advances India's Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR vision.
MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions | ASEAN was founded in 1967 by the Bangkok Declaration and its Secretariat is in Jakarta, Indonesia | The first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise was held in 2023