**Executive Summary**
The 5th Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC-26) was held on February 21, 2026, at the Naval War College, Goa. The conclave brought together Chiefs of Navies and senior maritime leaders from 15 Indian Ocean Region nations to address maritime security challenges and strengthen cooperative mechanisms. Key topics included real-time information exchange, capacity building, and coordinated responses to transnational maritime crimes.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Conclave Overview:**
* The GMC-26 reaffirmed the commitment of regional partners to cooperative maritime security.
* The Indian Navy organized the conclave under the theme *"Common Maritime Security Challenges in the IOR Progressing Lines of Efforts (LsOE) to Mitigate Dynamic Threats."*
* The conclave aligned with the Prime Minister's vision of *_MAHASAGAR_ - Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions'*.
* **Keynote Address Highlights:**
* Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd) emphasized synchronized regional responses, real-time information exchanges, and sustained capacity development.
* Addressing challenges such as IUU fishing and trafficking requires collective ownership.
* **Information Sharing and Coordination:**
* Sessions focused on enhancing real-time information exchange and operational coordination to counter IUU fishing, drug trafficking, and illegal maritime activities.
* Speakers highlighted the need for strengthening maritime domain awareness networks, interoperability of information-sharing systems, and structured institutional linkages.
* **Capacity Building and Cooperation:**
* Discussions covered collaborative pathways for capacity building and enhancement among maritime agencies.
* The importance of pooling regional training resources and strengthening institutional frameworks was emphasized.
* Sustainable maritime stability requires coordinated capability development and structured cooperation.
* **Closing Remarks:**
* Chiefs of Navies and Heads of Delegations articulated national perspectives on collaborative efforts to mitigate dynamic maritime threats.
* Adm Dinesh K Tripathi (CNS) underscored the need to move from shared awareness to coordinated action leveraging technology and seamless information sharing.
* GMC-26 reaffirmed India's commitment to fostering maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Indian Ocean Region Nations**
* **Impact:** Enhanced maritime security cooperation and a strengthened framework for addressing common challenges like illegal fishing and transnational crime. Increased focus on information sharing and coordinated responses.
* **Action Required:** Participate in collaborative initiatives, share maritime information, and develop coordinated operational responses.
**Stakeholder: Indian Navy**
* **Impact:** Reinforced role as a convenor of structured maritime dialogue and an enabler of collaborative security architecture.
* **Action Required:** Continue organizing and facilitating maritime security discussions, promote information sharing, and support regional capacity building.
**Stakeholder: Maritime Agencies of the IOR**
* **Impact:** Increased opportunities for capacity building and capability enhancement.
* **Action Required:** Participate in regional training programs, share resources, and strengthen institutional frameworks.
Key Entities Referenced
Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC-26): A maritime conference held in Goa, bringing together chiefs of navies and senior maritime leaders from Indian Ocean Region nations to address maritime security challenges.
Indian Ocean Region (IOR): The primary geographic area of focus for maritime security discussions and cooperation.
MAHASAGAR: Prime Minister's vision of 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions', guiding the conclave's deliberations.
Indian Navy: Organizer of the Goa Maritime Conclave and plays a key role in addressing maritime security challenges in the IOR.
Goa: The location of the Goa Maritime Conclave.
Ministry of Defence
GOA MARITIME CONCLAVE 2026 REINFORCES
SHARED VISION OF MARITIME SECURITY IN
INDIAN OCEAN REGION
Posted On: 21 FEB 2026 6:57PM by PIB Mumbai
Panaji-Goa, Date : 21.02.2026
The 5th Edition of the Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC-26) was successfully conducted
at Naval War College, Goa on 21 Feb 2026 , bringing together Chiefs of Navies and
senior maritime leaders from 15 Indian Ocean Region nations. The Conclave
reaffirmed the collective commitment of regional partners to strengthen cooperative
mechanisms aimed at addressing common maritime security challenges in the
Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Organised by the Indian Navy under the overarching theme of *"Common Maritime
Security Challenges in the IOR - Progressing Lines of Efforts (LsOE) to Mitigate
Dynamic Threats"* , GMC-26 underscored India's continued role as a convenor of
structured maritime dialogue and an enabler of collaborative security architecture in
the region. Conducted in consonance with the *Prime Minister's vision of '
_MAHASAGAR_ - Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across
Regions'* , the conclave provided a structured platform for deliberations focused on
actionable outcomes and collaborative implementation frameworks.
In his Keynote address, Admiral Arun Prakash, (Retd), former Chief of Naval Staff,
highlighted that the evolving maritime security environment demands synchronised
regional responses anchored in real-time information exchanges, institutionalised
coordination mechanisms and sustained capacity development. He emphasised that
addressing challenges such as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing,
trafficking networks and other transnational maritime crimes requires collective
ownership and shared responsibility among IOR nations.
The first session moderated by Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, (Retd), former National
Maritime Security Coordinator, focused on enhancing mechanisms for real-time
exchanges of maritime information and operational coordination to counter IUU
fishing, drug trafficking and other illegal maritime activities. The speakers in this
session were Rear Admiral TVN Prasanna, of the Indian Navy and Colonel Amanulla
Ahmed Rasheed from Maldives. Issues of trans-national significance like
strengthening maritime domain awareness networks, interoperability of information-
sharing systems and the need for structured institutional linkages to enable rapid
and coordinated responses across jurisdictions were highlighted by the speakers.The second session examined collaborative pathways for capacity building and
capability enhancement among maritime agencies of the IOR. Rear Admiral Srinivas
Maddula, and Captain (IN) Ranendra S Sawan, Senior Fellow, National Maritime
Foundation, shared their insights, with Admiral Karambir Singh, (Retd), former Chief
of the Naval Staff and Chairman, National Maritime Foundation, moderating the
session. The ensuing deliberations highlighted the importance of pooling regional
training resources, expanding professional exchange programmes and strengthening
institutional frameworks to ensure long-term maritime resilience. The session
reinforced the understanding that sustainable maritime stability in the IOR is
contingent upon coordinated capability development and structured cooperation.
The Conclave concluded with addresses by Chiefs of Navies and Heads of
Delegations, who articulated national perspectives on advancing collaborative Lines
of Efforts to mitigate dynamic maritime threats.
Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, CNS conveyed sincere appreciation to all partner nations for
their participation and enduring commitment to shared maritime security in the
Indian Ocean Region. He underscored that in an era of adaptive maritime threats,
we must move from shared awareness to coordinated action by leveraging
technology, seamless information sharing and focused operations under the vision of
MAHASAGAR.
The deliberations reflected strong convergence on strengthening regional maritime
partnerships, institutionalizing cooperation mechanisms and enhancing collective
capacity.
In its fifth iteration, the Goa Maritime Conclave reaffirmed India's commitment to
fostering inclusive, consultative and action-oriented maritime cooperation in the
Indian Ocean Region. GMC-26 once again resolved to uphold safe, secure and stable
seas through structured collaboration, real-time information exchange and
coordinated capacity development initiatives.***
Source: PRO-Defence/ PIB-Panaji,Goa
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