Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 – A Multinational Maritime Cooperation and Security Exercise Led by the Indian Navy
Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 is being conducted from July 20–23, 2026, by the Indian Navy and the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under Combined Task Force-154 (CTF-154), which is currently led by India. This multinational maritime training exercise focuses on strengthening maritime security, interoperability, capacity building, and coordination among the navies of partner nations. The CMF, headquartered in Bahrain, is a naval partnership of over 40 nations that works to combat piracy, terrorism, and illicit trafficking, and to ensure freedom of navigation. The exercise is taking place at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi and showcases India's SAGAR policy, its Indo-Pacific vision, and its growing role in global maritime training and security cooperation.
Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 is being organized by the Indian Navy and the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) from July 20–23, 2026. This four-day multinational maritime training exercise is being held under the aegis of Combined Task Force-154 (CTF-154), the command of which is currently held by the Indian Navy. Its objective is to strengthen maritime security, cooperation, and coordination among the participating navies.
What is Operation Southern Readiness 26-2?
It is a multinational maritime training and capacity-building program aimed at enhancing interoperability, joint operational capability, and professional cooperation among the navies of partner nations. The key objectives of this exercise are to foster international maritime cooperation, develop the skills of regional navies, and strengthen a secure and rules-based maritime order.
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)
The CMF is one of the world's largest multinational naval coalitions, comprising over 40 nations. It is headquartered in Bahrain. The organization aims to ensure maritime security, combat piracy, terrorism, and illicit trafficking, uphold freedom of navigation, and foster international cooperation in the maritime domain.
India's Role and Combined Task Force-154 (CTF-154)
India is currently leading Combined Task Force-154 (CTF-154), the CMF's task force dedicated to training and capacity building. Through this leadership, India plays a pivotal role in conducting training programs for partner nations, sharing best maritime practices, and strengthening regional maritime security cooperation. This aligns with India's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative and its proactive maritime policy in the Indo-Pacific region.
Significance of the Southern Naval Command
The exercise is being conducted at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, the Indian Navy's premier training command. Here, naval officers receive high-level training utilizing state-of-the-art simulators, modern training infrastructure, and experienced instructors. Hosting this exercise also showcases India's global maritime training capabilities.
Significance for the UPSC Examination
This topic is highly relevant for GS Paper-2 (International Relations) and GS Paper-3 (Internal Security and Defence). Questions may be asked regarding the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), CTF-154, the SAGAR policy, the Indo-Pacific, maritime security, freedom of navigation, Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), and India's maritime diplomacy. It is a significant contemporary topic covering all three stages of the examination: Prelims, Mains, and the Interview.
