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India Launches IOS SAGAR Maritime Mission with 16 Nations from Mumbai

Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth flagged off the Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR (IOS SAGAR) initiative from Mumbai, with INS Sunayna setting sail with personnel from India and 16 partner nations. The mission reflects India's vision of 'leadership through partnership' and its Neighbourhood First policy, aiming to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. The deployment will include a sea phase with port calls in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and the Maldives, concluding in Kochi. Naval Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi emphasized the need for collaborative approaches to address modern maritime challenges like piracy and illegal fishing.

Key Points: India Flags Off IOS SAGAR Maritime Security Mission

  • Reinforces regional maritime security
  • Involves 16 friendly foreign countries
  • Operational expression of Vision MAHASAGAR
  • Training and port calls across Indian Ocean
3 min read

Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth flags off IOS SAGAR from Mumbai

Indian Navy's INS Sunayna embarks on IOS SAGAR mission with 16 partner nations to enhance maritime security & cooperation in the Indian Ocean.

"A free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific is in the interest of all nations - Narendra Modi"

New Delhi, April 2

In a significant step to reinforcing India's commitment to regional maritime security and international cooperation, INS Sunayna, an Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Indian Navy, set sail from Mumbai as Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR on April 2, the release said.

The ship, onboard naval personnel from India and sixteen maritime forces of Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs), was flagged off by Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Sanjay Seth in the presence of Naval Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.

During his address, RRM underscored that the IOS SAGAR initiative is a reflection of India's collective vision of 'leadership through partnership, strength through unity, and progress through peace.' He highlighted the recent return of INSV Kaundinya from Oman, symbolising the growing maritime cooperation between the two countries and emphasized that IOS SAGAR 2026 carries forward the same spirit of engagement, expanding it into a broader and more inclusive framework of regional partnerships.

"A free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific is in the interest of all nations" quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Seth underscored India's approach of Neighbourhood First and Vision MAHASAGAR - Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. He highlighted that IOS SAGAR is a practical and operational expression of vision MAHASAGAR, and it brings together partner nations on a shared platform for training, collaboration, and collective readiness, demonstrating that maritime security is most effective when it is built through cooperation and shared responsibility.

In his address, Naval Chief Dinesh K Tripathi highlighted the evolving maritime landscape marked by increasing contestation, IUU fishing, piracy, narco-trafficking and emerging competition over critical resources, and underscored the need for collaborative approaches to ensure a free, open and secure Indian Ocean. 'In a complex maritime environment, coming together of 16 like-minded maritime countries for shared purpose and collective commitment through IOS SAGAR is rare and significant,' said Admiral Tripathi.

The mission completed its Harbour Phase from March 16-29, enabling professional exchanges, training, and coordination among participating personnel, and will undergo the Sea Phase from April 2 to May 20, 2026 through operational deployment across the South-Eastern Indian Ocean Region. During this IOS SAGAR will undertake port calls at Colombo, Sri Lanka, Phuket, Thailand, Jakarta, Indonesia, Singapore, Chittagong, Bangladesh, Yangon, Myanmar, Male, and Maldives and conclude the deployment at Kochi, India. The crew will be trained in seamanship, navigation, communication procedures, maritime safety, firefighting, damage control, VBSS operations, and advanced bridgemanship to enhance operational readiness and decision-making capabilities in complex maritime environments.

During the flag-off ceremony of IOS SAGAR, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, and dignitaries from missions of the participating countries were also present.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Great to see India taking a leadership role in maritime security. The port calls across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives etc. strengthen our ties with neighbours. A secure Indian Ocean is crucial for our trade and economy.
R
Rohit P
While the initiative is good, I hope the substantial resources spent are justified by clear, measurable outcomes. We often hear about "cooperation" but need transparency on how this directly benefits our coastal security against threats like illegal fishing and smuggling.
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Sarah B
As someone living in Mumbai, it's heartening to see our city as the starting point for such an important mission. The Indian Ocean is our backyard, and keeping it safe and open is in everyone's interest. Well done to the Navy!
V
Vikram M
"Leadership through partnership" – perfectly said. This is how India should project its power, not through aggression but by bringing nations together. The training in VBSS and damage control is very practical for real-world scenarios.
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Karthik V
Good step. But we must ensure this cooperation translates to actionable intelligence sharing and quick joint responses during crises. The real test will be during an actual piracy incident or security threat.

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