Call for maritime collaboration gains strength as Operation Southern Readiness begins

The need for collaborative efforts among friendly nations to address emerging “non-traditional threats” was stressed as ‘Operation Southern Readiness 26-2’, a multinational maritime security training engagement, got under way at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi on Monday (July 20, 2026). Leaders of the participating naval forces underscored the importance of shared learning in tackling contemporary maritime security challenges.

“The oceans and the seas do not divide nations. They connect nations, and on many occasions, instabilities and insecurities on land translate into non-traditional threats in the maritime domain,” Rear Admiral Deepak Singhal, Chief Staff Officer (Training), Headquarters Southern Naval Command, who delivered the keynote address at the inauguration, said. The officer said the four-day event focusses on training personnel from multiple countries to address non-traditional threats.