Bay of Bengal to Red Sea: How Navy is building partnerships across three seas
The Indian Navy is expanding its maritime diplomacy through a series of joint exercises and port calls across the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea. Recent engagements with Myanmar, Oman, and Egypt underscore India's strategic efforts to strengthen regional security partnerships.
Why it matters
These naval maneuvers reflect India's proactive stance in securing maritime trade routes and countering regional influence in the Indian Ocean and beyond.
In just a few weeks, the Indian Navy has worked with partners across a long arc, from the Bay of Bengal to the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Pacific. The three latest engagements, with Myanmar, Egypt and Oman, show how naval diplomacy has become routine business.On the eastern coast, the 8th edition of the India-Myanmar Naval Exercise (IMNEX-26) began at Visakhapatnam on November 10 and runs until November 14. Myanmar Navy Ship UMS King Sin Phyu Shin arrived for the exercise with INS Rana and INS Sumedha, and the opening ceremony was held onboard INS Rana. The harbour phase has professional interactions, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), cross-deck visits and sporting events, and the sea phase will include coordinated operations and tactical manoeuvres. The series began in 2018, and the same Myanmar frigate was at Visakhapatnam for the Milan exercise in 2024.
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