Joint maritime mechanism in IOR will be based on consensus: Navy Chief

India on Saturday reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) , with Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi emphasizing that any proposed joint maritime mechanism would be based on consensus among participating nations and supported by India’s capacity-building efforts .

Addressing the fifth Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC 2026) at the Naval War College in Verem , Admiral Tripathi said the opening session focused on enhancing cooperation among IOR states, including a potential joint task force arrangement . “The GMC is based on consensus. All nations have different capabilities, and these must be considered,” he said.

Highlighting past initiatives, he referred to the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR , in which personnel from 10 IOR countries sailed together for 41 days last year. Based on positive feedback, IOS SAGAR 2.0 is planned later this year to further strengthen interoperability and a shared understanding of the maritime environment .

The conclave, attended by naval chiefs and senior leaders from 14 IOR nations, addressed challenges such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal fishing, and maritime terrorism , stressing real-time information sharing, enhanced maritime domain awareness, and coordinated operations . Former Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash noted the importance of integrated surveillance and regulatory alignment to ensure effective regional cooperation.

Admiral Tripathi also highlighted the vastness of the Indian Ocean , the world’s third-largest, as a persistent surveillance challenge and reaffirmed India’s support for partner nations in capacity building , based on requests and consultations.

Separately, India has assumed the Chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) at the 9th Conclave of Chiefs in Visakhapatnam, bringing together 33 member and observer nations. India will lead initiatives on maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, information sharing, and cooperative training , reflecting its growing leadership role in regional maritime governance.

The combined momentum from GMC 2026 and IONS leadership highlights India’s push to deepen maritime security cooperation, interoperability, and strategic alignment among Indian Ocean nations.