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India, Maldives, Sri Lanka Launch DOSTI-17 Maritime Security Exercise in Male

The harbour phase of the 17th DOSTI trilateral maritime exercise has begun in Male, Maldives. The exercise involves the coast guards of India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives conducting joint training on pollution response and vessel boarding procedures. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Maldivian Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, who emphasized enhanced cooperation. Originally a bilateral event starting in 1991, DOSTI became a trilateral exercise in 2012 to bolster regional maritime security.

Key Points: DOSTI-17 Trilateral Coast Guard Exercise Begins in Maldives

  • Harbour phase underway in Male
  • Focus on MARPOL & VBSS joint drills
  • Aims to strengthen regional maritime cooperation
  • Part of India's 'SAGAR' and neighbourhood-first policy
2 min read

17th edition of India-Maldives-Sri Lanka DOSTI Exercise kicks off in Maldives

The 17th DOSTI maritime exercise between India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka commences in Male, focusing on interoperability, pollution response, and security drills.

"highlighted the importance of continued cooperation, coordination, and interoperability among the participating coast guards - Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon"

Male, January 17

The harbour phase of the 17th DOSTI exercise is currently underway in Male, featuring collaborative MARPOL exercises and joint VBSS drills conducted by the Indian Coast Guard, the Sri Lankan Coast Guard, and the Maldives National Defence Forces, the Indian Coast Guard said on Saturday.

In a post on X, it noted that live demonstrations of pollution response equipment, tabletop exercises and cross-boarding SOPs were undertaken to augment interoperability and camaraderie.

In a previous post, it was noted that a four-member delegation led by Director General Paramesh Sivamani of the Indian Coast Guard is visiting the Maldives for the 17th DOSTI trilateral exercise.

ICG said that the harbour phase of the exercise encompasses collaborative MARPOL and VBSS training to foster reciprocal learning and capacity augmentation, with Indian Coast Guard ships and aircraft set to participate in the ensuing sea phase.

It further noted that DG ICG called MNDF Chiefs to boost bilateral cooperation, reflecting India's 'SAGAR' vision and neighbourhood-first policy.

As per the official website of MNDF, DOSTI 17 aims at strengthening maritime cooperation and operational coordination among the coast guards.

"The exercise was formally launched during an inauguration ceremony held on January 17 at Hotel Jen, Maldives Male, bringing together the Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard, the Indian Coast Guard, and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard. The ceremony was graced by the Minister of Defence, Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, as the Chief Guest, who highlighted the importance of continued cooperation, coordination, and interoperability among the participating coast guards", the statement by MNDF said.

As per the MNDF, this year's exercise places emphasis on practical joint training and information sharing, providing an opportunity for participating personnel to exchange expertise and strengthen professional relationships.

It further noted, "Originally initiated in 1991 as a bilateral exercise between the Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard and the Indian Coast Guard, DOSTI was expanded into a trilateral framework in 2012 with the inclusion of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard. Since then, the exercise has continued to serve as an important platform for regional maritime cooperation."

As per the MNDF, the inauguration ceremony was attended by several ministers of the Maldivian Government, Chief of Defence Force, Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, Vice Chief of Defence Force, Brigadier General Ahmed Ghiyas, Director General's from the Indian and Sri Lanka Coast Guards, as well as foreign ambassadors.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Very important exercise, especially for pollution response. Our oceans are shared resources. Joint training on MARPOL protocols will help protect the marine environment in the Indian Ocean region. Practical, on-ground cooperation like this is what truly builds capacity and trust.
R
Rohit P
Good to see this continuing despite the recent political noise. Maritime security is non-negotiable and transcends short-term politics. The SAGAR vision is the right approach. Hope the sea phase goes smoothly. Jai Hind!
S
Sarah B
As someone who follows regional geopolitics, this is a positive signal. Trilateral cooperation between India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka is key to countering non-traditional threats like piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing in these waters. Interoperability is the need of the hour.
V
Vikram M
While the exercise is good, I hope the focus on "information sharing" is genuine and leads to actionable intelligence. Sometimes these events become more about ceremony than substance. The real test is how quickly these forces can coordinate during an actual crisis at sea.
K
Kavya N
Building camaraderie is just as important as the technical drills. When personnel from different countries train together and build personal bonds, it creates a stronger foundation for peace. More power to DOSTI! 👏

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