India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives participated in key trilateral coast guard drill – DOSTI Exercise – the 17th edition of which ended on Monday (January 19, 2026). The exercise was formally launched during an inauguration ceremony held on Saturday (January 17, 2026) at Hotel Jen, Maldives Malé.
Conducted in the Maldives, this year’s joint trilateral coast guard exercise between India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives had emphasis on practical joint training and information sharing, providing an opportunity for participating personnel to exchange expertise and strengthen professional relationships.
A trilateral maritime drill involving the three coast guard forces was conducted as part of the 17th edition of DOSTI exercise on Sunday (January 18, 2026). “The strategic exercise aims to augment maritime cooperation, interoperability and collaborative mechanisms to address non traditional security challenges,” Indian Coast Guard said.
Exercise DOSTI-17: What all happened during the joint drills
The drills entered their harbour phase in Malé on Saturday, reinforcing maritime cooperation and operational synergy in the strategically vital Indian Ocean Region. Officials said the ongoing engagements underline India’s commitment to strengthening regional maritime security under its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision and neighbourhood-first policy.
According to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the harbour phase of DOSTI-17 featured collaborative MARPOL exercises, conducted onboard ICGS Vajra at Malé Anchorage, and joint Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills, involving personnel from the Indian Coast Guard, Sri Lanka Coast Guard and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard.
Live demonstrations of pollution response equipment, tabletop exercises and cross-boarding standard operating procedures were conducted to enhance interoperability, mutual understanding and camaraderie among the participating forces.
DOSTI-17: India boosts bilateral ties with Maldives
While participating in the trilateral drills, India also engaged in strengthening bilateral ties with Maldives. The ICG transferred berthing items to the Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard, reinforcing defence cooperation and capacity enhancement under the ambit of Defence Diplomacy initiatives.
The gesture underscored ICG’s commitment to fortify maritime collaboration and regional security.
A four-member Indian delegation led by Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, Paramesh Sivamani, is in the Maldives for the exercise. The ICG said the Director General also called on senior MNDF leadership to discuss ways to further boost bilateral and trilateral cooperation.
DOSTI-17 sea phase with ships and aircraft
The Indian Coast Guard said the harbour phase will be followed by a sea phase, in which ICG ships and aircraft will participate alongside regional counterparts, while no pictures or details of the same have been made public yet.
DOSTI-17 Exercise’s inauguration ceremoney was attended by senior political and military leaders from the Maldives. Maldivian Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, who was the Chief Guest, highlighted the importance of sustained cooperation, coordination and interoperability among the participating coast guards.
The ceremony was also attended by Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, Vice Chief Brigadier General Ahmed Ghiyas, Directors General of the Indian and Sri Lanka Coast Guards, several Maldivian ministers and foreign ambassadors.
Exercise DOSTI: A platform built on three decades of trust
Originally launched in 1991 as a bilateral exercise between India and the Maldives, DOSTI was expanded into a trilateral framework in 2012 with the inclusion of Sri Lanka. Since then, it has evolved into a crucial platform for regional maritime cooperation, information sharing and capacity building.
The MNDF said this year’s edition places particular emphasis on practical joint training and professional exchanges, enabling personnel to share expertise and strengthen long-term working relationships. Officials from all three countries stressed that exercises like DOSTI are vital for tackling common maritime challenges such as marine pollution, illegal activities at sea and search-and-rescue operations.