In a bid to strengthen maritime security and promote interoperability, coast guard personnel from India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka have initiated a four-day trilateral exercise aimed at identifying emerging maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.
The trilateral exercise, named ‘DOSTI-16,’ involves the Indian Coast Guard ship Samarth and ICGS Abhinav, along with Sri Lanka Naval Ship Samudura. The exercise, scheduled from February 22 to 25, is taking place in Malé, with Bangladesh participating as an observer.
The Coast Guard helicopter ICGS Dornier is also participating in the exercise, known as ‘Dosti,’ which Sri Lanka emphasized aims to enhance cooperation, strengthen friendships, improve mutual operational capabilities, and foster interoperability among the Coast Guard personnel of India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
ADG S Paramesh, Additional Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, received a warm welcome from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) upon his arrival in Malé. Commanding Officers of the Indian Coast Guard ships engaged with Commandant MNDF CG to explore mutual avenues of cooperative engagement.
Throughout the trilateral exercise, the ICG ships will partake in various activities and engage in a joint sea exercise with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard and Maldives National Defence Force.
Describing the 16th edition of the India-Maldives-Sri Lanka trilateral exercise ‘Dosti’ as a “regional synergy to enhance maritime security & interoperability,” the Indian Mission in Maldives highlighted the significance of collaborative efforts in the region.
A statement from the Sri Lankan Navy emphasized that participating in such exercises allows the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance cooperation and interoperability with other maritime stakeholders in the region. It further pointed out the advantages, including gaining new knowledge about maritime operations, exchanging strategies and experiences, identifying emerging maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean Region, and collaboratively finding solutions for them.
