First BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise at Sri Vijaya Puram (Andamans), 30 Oct – 3 Nov 2026; all 7 member nations take part

1 November 2026 · English Defence

Topics: Science, Sports, Defence & International · 1 November 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

India is hosting the first 'BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise' from 30 Oct to 3 Nov 2026 at Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair), Andaman & Nicobar Islands, through the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC). Navies and maritime agencies of all 7 members – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand – take part. Theme: 'Translating Vision to Action – Shared Seas, Shared Security and Shared Prosperity'. It has a harbour phase and a sea phase.

Key facts

Background

• BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation): 1997 Bangkok Declaration; Secretariat Dhaka; Charter in force from 20 May 2024. 7 members – 5 South Asian + 2 South-East Asian (Myanmar, Thailand). Nepal and Bhutan are landlocked.
• The exercise builds on the outcomes of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit (Bangkok, April 2025), themed 'BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient and Open' ('PRO BIMSTEC'), which adopted the 'Bangkok Vision 2030'.
• Defence: the Andaman & Nicobar Command, set up in 2001, is India's first integrated tri-service command; its roles include maritime surveillance, HADR and search-and-rescue. Port Blair was renamed 'Sri Vijaya Puram' in Sept 2024.
• Geography: the Bay of Bengal is a key sea lane linking South and South-East Asia – vital for trade, connectivity and energy security. The 'Ten Degree Channel' separates the Andaman group from the Nicobar group; India's only active volcano is on Barren Island in the Andaman Sea; Narcondam Island is a dormant volcano.

Tamil Nadu link: Tamil Nadu's east coast on the Bay of Bengal is called the 'Coromandel Coast' – a name derived from 'Cholamandalam'. In Chola times, sea trade and naval expeditions crossed the Bay of Bengal from this coast to South-East Asia.

Source: PIB (Ministry of Defence) – 'Inaugural BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise'; The Tribune, Nicobar Times, 31 Oct 2026

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