Mumbai, April 2 (IANS) Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Thursday flagged off INS Sunayna, an Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Indian Navy, that set sail from Mumbai as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR, reinforcing India’s commitment to regional maritime security and international cooperation, an official said.​

The ship carries personnel from India and 16 maritime forces of Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs), said a statement.​

Naval Chief Dinesh K. Tripathi highlighted the evolving maritime landscape marked by increasing contestation, IUU fishing, piracy, narco-trafficking, and emerging competition over critical resources and underscored the need for collaborative approaches to ensure a free, open, and secure Indian Ocean.​

“In a complex maritime environment, coming together of 16 like-minded maritime countries for shared purpose and collective commitment through IOS SAGAR is rare and significant,” said Admiral Tripathi.​

Earlier, Seth said the IOS SAGAR initiative reflects India’s collective vision of “leadership through partnership, strength through unity, and progress through peace”.​

He highlighted the recent return of INSV Kaundinya from Oman, symbolising the growing maritime cooperation between the two countries, and emphasised that IOS SAGAR 2026 carries forward the same spirit of engagement, expanding it into a broader and more inclusive framework of regional partnerships.​

“A free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific is in the interest of all nations”, quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Seth underscored India’s approach of Neighbourhood First and Vision MAHASAGAR – Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.​

He highlighted that IOS SAGAR is a practical and operational expression of the vision MAHASAGAR, and it brings partner nations together on a shared platform for training, collaboration, and collective readiness, demonstrating that maritime security is most effective when built through cooperation and shared responsibility.​

–IANS

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