♦ Indian Navy hosted the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) maritime exercise at Maritime Warfare Centre of Southern Naval Command in Kochi. The high-level engagement brought together delegates from IONS member navies to deliberate on evolving non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

♦ The exercise saw participation from Bangladesh, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Timor-Leste. 

♦ As India assumes the IONS chairmanship for the 2026–2028 cycle after a gap of 16 years, IMEX TTX 2026 marks a key milestone in strengthening regional maritime leadership.

♦ IMEX TTX 26 reaffirmed the role of IONS as a vital platform for cooperation through constructive dialogue, collective responsibility and regionally driven solutions to maritime challenges.