The Andaman and Nicobar Command is hosting the inaugural BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise, bringing regional navies and agencies together to improve coordination in the Bay of Bengal.

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• The first edition of the BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise began at Sri Vijaya Puram, formerly Port Blair, on October 30, 2026.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Command is hosting the exercise, which runs from October 30 to November 2.
• It has two phases: a harbour phase of professional exchanges and planning, and a sea phase to improve interoperability.
• Navy assets from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand are taking part.
• Bhutan and Nepal are sending representatives because both landlocked nations depend on the Bay of Bengal for export-import trade.
• The exercise aims to enhance maritime domain awareness, regional operational coordination, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and responses to cross-border maritime crime and oil spills.
• BIMSTEC has seven members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka from South Asia, and Myanmar and Thailand from Southeast Asia.
• The grouping works under the BIMSTEC Charter and the Bangkok BIMSTEC Vision 2030.
• The BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation was signed at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok in April 2025.
• The Expert Group on Maritime Security Cooperation has finalised guidelines for maritime law enforcement agencies and for the maritime component of disaster relief.
• India will soon present a draft BIMSTEC White Shipping Agreement for member states to consider.
• India has also proposed a BIMSTEC Disaster Management Centre to coordinate regional relief operations.