The second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) opened at Subic Bay in the Philippines on Monday, with Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish joining maritime forces from ASEAN Member States.

This edition runs under the theme "Anchored in Trust, United at Sea".

The programme is built around professional, operational and social engagements between the Indian Navy and its ASEAN partners. Its aim is better mutual understanding, closer cooperation and stronger interoperability, which in plain terms means crews from different navies learning to work together smoothly at sea.

Ambassador Harsh Kumar Jain at the opening ceremony

The exercise began with an opening ceremony at the Travelers Hotel in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo, Zambales. Ambassador of India to the Philippines Harsh Kumar Jain attended as the Guest of Honour and addressed the participating maritime forces. Personnel from the participating navies also called on the Commander, Philippine Fleet, during the opening days.

ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise begins with the Harbour Phase

The ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise opens with a Harbour Phase ashore. It includes Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, where specialists from each navy compare procedures, along with sporting and cultural activities and community engagement.

Operational Synchronisation comes next, followed by a Pre-Sail Brief before the ships head out.

Sea Phase to follow

In the Sea Phase, the participating forces will carry out coordinated maritime exercises and operational serials. The focus is practical training, with crews working on coordination and interoperability through shared activity at sea rather than in briefing rooms.

Act East and MAHASAGAR

The Indian Navy has placed the exercise under India's Act East Policy and the vision of MAHASAGAR. The year 2026 is also being marked as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation.

Ties with the host nation have moved up a step over the past year. India and the Philippines established a Strategic Partnership in August 2025, and the Ministry of External Affairs lists maritime cooperation among the main areas of the relationship.

How AIME began

The first edition, AIME-2023, was co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy in May 2023. Its harbour phase was held at Changi Naval Base in Singapore, and its sea phase in the South China Sea. India sent the destroyer INS Delhi, the stealth frigate INS Satpura and a P8I maritime patrol aircraft. Ships from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam took part. Nine ships in all sailed in that sea phase.

INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish stay on at Subic Bay

Both Indian ships arrived at Subic Bay on 20 September for the ADMM-Plus Joint Cooperation Activity. That activity closed with a ceremony on 25 September, and the same two ships are now taking part in AIME-2026.

Both are part of the Indian Navy's current operational deployment to the region. INS Sahyadri is a Shivalik class stealth frigate built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai. INS Kulish is a Kora class corvette. Earlier this month, INS Kulish made the first ever Indian Navy call at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base.