Naval forces from across the region are gearing up for the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise 2026 (AIME 2026), scheduled from September 28 to October 2.
Co-hosted by the Philippines and India, the major multilateral drill aims to bolster regional stability, enhance maritime security, and elevate tactical interoperability among participating forces.
Operating under the theme “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea,” the joint drills will bring together personnel from India, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and Brunei.
Key leaders finalized operational blueprints during the AIME 2026 Final Planning Conference held from August 10 to 12 in Pasay City. The conference was co-chaired by Naval Defense Command Chief Commodore Lued Lawan Lincuna—representing Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta—alongside Commodore Amaninder Singh Sangha of the Indian Navy.
Highlighting the importance of maritime defense collaboration, Lincuna stressed that shared waters serve as vital lifelines for commerce, connection, and peace.
“As maritime nations, we recognize the sea as a vital link that connects peoples, facilitates economic activity, and contributes to collective security,” Lincuna said.
Lincuna noted that navigating modern security challenges requires seamless coordination and shared responsibility across borders.
“From safeguarding vital sea lines of communication to responding to emerging maritime security concerns, collective effectiveness depends on the ability of nations to cooperate, communicate, and operate together with confidence and professionalism,” Lincuna added.
Commodore Sangha pointed to the deep-rooted historical ties between India and ASEAN nations, framing the upcoming exercise as a crucial step toward keeping shared regional waters safe and open.
“Challenges in the maritime domain are evolving, and thus a collective resolve is a must in order to maintain a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region,” Sangha stated.
The upcoming drills will serve as a venue to harmonize communications, refine joint tactics, and reinforce a unified front against conventional and emerging threats across the Indo-Pacific.