Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and India have reinforced their strategic partnership through naval drills and cultural diplomacy.
These efforts mark significant milestones during the designated 2026 ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Co-operation.
Subic Bay hosts joint maritime drills
The Philippine Navy and the Indian Navy successfully co-hosted the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) at Subic Bay, Zambales, from September 28 to October 2.
The multilateral exercise brought together naval units and observers from across eight ASEAN member states alongside Indian forces to deepen defence co-operation and maritime interoperability.
The drills featured advanced naval assets, including India’s stealth frigate INS Sahyadri and missile corvette INS Kulish, the Philippine Navy’s BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Tarlac and Singapore’s RSS Justice.
The engagement progressed through a harbour phase focused on disaster relief, logistics and maritime domain awareness, followed by tactical manoeuvres, boarding operations and cross-deck helicopter landings during the sea phase off the coast of Zambales.
Shared responsibility for regional security
Attending the opening ceremony as guest of honour, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Harsh Kumar Jain emphasised the strategic importance of collective maritime vigilance.
Ambassador Jain highlighted that maritime security and regional economic prosperity remain a shared responsibility between India and Southeast Asian nations.
Ambassador Jain also commended the Philippines for co-hosting the multilateral exercise alongside India during its tenure as ASEAN chair.
The joint manoeuvres built upon the inaugural AIME held in Singapore in 2023, underscoring both sides’ commitment to maintaining open and secure sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific region.
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Art exhibition celebrates heritage
Alongside security initiatives, civilisational ties were highlighted at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on October 12.
According to a press release by the ASEAN Secretariat, Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Political-Security Community, Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz, officiated the opening of the ASEAN-India Artists’ Camp 3.0 Exhibition.
Themed “Echoes of Ramayana: Artistic Journeys Across ASEAN and India,” the exhibition featured creative works by 21 artists from India and Southeast Asia.
Running through October 16, the showcase celebrates shared cultural narratives and people-to-people connections that underpin the broader ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The members of ASEAN are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
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