Indian Navy Hosts IMEX TTX 2026 in Kochi, Strengthening Maritime Cooperation in the Indian Ocean

The Indian Navy hosted the IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX) TTX 2026 at the Maritime Warfare Centre under the Southern Naval Command in Kochi on March 27, 2026, bringing together senior delegates from member navies of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), international officers of IOS SAGAR, and Indian Navy personnel for discussions on emerging non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.

The exercise saw participation from 12 countries — Bangladesh, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Timor-Leste — reflecting the growing emphasis on regional coordination and shared maritime responsibility in one of the world’s most strategically important oceanic spaces.

The event assumes added significance as India takes over the IONS Chairmanship for the 2026–2028 cycle after a gap of 16 years. In that context, IMEX TTX 2026 is being seen as an important step in reinforcing India’s leadership role in promoting regional maritime cooperation and dialogue.

Held in a simulated environment rather than through live deployment, the tabletop exercise focused on complex maritime security situations in the Indian Ocean Region, which remains crucial to global trade, energy movement and strategic connectivity. The format allowed participating navies to examine operational approaches, identify constraints, improve information-sharing mechanisms, and assess decision-making processes in a collaborative setting.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the exercise also contributed to the refinement of IONS frameworks and helped validate maritime security guidelines through practical application. By recreating multiple contingency scenarios, IMEX TTX 2026 created space for professional exchange, deeper trust-building and a more coordinated understanding of regional security responses.

The Indian Navy said the exercise reaffirmed the role of IONS as a key platform for constructive dialogue, collective responsibility and regionally driven solutions to maritime challenges. The outcomes of the engagement are expected to further strengthen the IONS framework and support a more stable, responsive and coherent maritime environment across the Indian Ocean Region

Source :PIB