Vizag, February 21, 2026: The Indian Navy assumed the two-year chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) during the 9th Conclave of Chiefs in Visakhapatnam on February 20.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi received the role from Thailand's Admiral Pairote Fuangchan, marking India's return after 16 years.
The voluntary forum, launched by India in 2008, unites 25 member navies and observers from the region to boost maritime cooperation, security, information sharing, and humanitarian aid.
Admiral Tripathi highlighted the Indian Ocean as a shared strategic space vital for global trade and stability in the "maritime century." He outlined a focus on CORE principles Cooperation built on trust, Operational awareness through information sharing, Resilience against threats and disasters, and Sustained engagement via dialogue.
