Key Highlights of AIME 2026
- The 2nd ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME 2026) is being conducted in the Philippines to enhance maritime cooperation between India and ASEAN member states.
- The exercise is co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Philippine Navy.
- The first AIME was conducted in Singapore in 2023.
Participating Naval Ships
- India: INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish
- Philippines: BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Tarlac
- Singapore: RSS Justice
Focus Areas
- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
- Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)
- Logistics cooperation
- Women, Peace and Security (WPS)
Maritime Drills
Sea exercises are being conducted off the coast of Zambales province, Philippines, involving:
- Boarding operations
- Helicopter cross-deck landings
- Medical evacuation exercises
Significance
- Enhances maritime security cooperation, operational coordination and trust-building between India and ASEAN countries.
- Supports India's vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
- Reinforces ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
Background: India-ASEAN Maritime Engagement
- India's engagement with Southeast Asia has evolved from the Look East Policy (1991) to the Act East Policy (2014).
- India and ASEAN elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022.
- Other key naval engagements include SIMBEX (India-Singapore bilateral exercise, since 1994), MILAN (multilateral naval exercise hosted by India) and coordinated patrols with regional navies.
Related Concepts for Prelims
- SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) – India's maritime vision announced in 2015.
- MAHASAGAR – expanded version of SAGAR, announced in 2025.
- ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) – adopted in 2019; emphasizes openness, transparency, inclusivity and a rules-based maritime order.
- ASEAN – established in 1967 (Bangkok Declaration); Secretariat located in Jakarta, Indonesia; the Philippines holds ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.