What happened:
On January 17, 2026, the harbour phase of the 17th DOSTI exercise began in Malé, involving the Indian Coast Guard, Sri Lanka Coast Guard, and the Maldives National Defence Force, with MARPOL and VBSS drills ahead of the sea phase.
Why it matters to India:
The exercise boosts maritime cooperation and interoperability in the Indian Ocean, in line with India’s SAGAR vision and neighbourhood-first policy.