**Summary:**
On June 24-25, 2025, the Indian Navy hosted the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Working Group Meeting on Maritime Security (IWGMARSEC) in New Delhi. Representatives from 13 IONS member nations participated, including Australia, Bangladesh, France, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Thailand. Rear Admiral Nirbhay Bapna, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Foreign Cooperation Intelligence, highlighted India's dedication to regional maritime cooperation and the necessity of multilateral mechanisms for addressing maritime security challenges. The meeting facilitated discussions on strengthening regional maritime security architecture through enhanced information sharing, Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), and collaborative threat mitigation approaches. Delegates worked on harmonized operational guidelines and measures for coordinated regional responses. The expected outcome is a reinforcement of member navies' commitment to a safe and secure Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The Ministry of Defence posted this information on June 26, 2025, at 8:56 PM by PIB Delhi. Release ID: 2140005.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Navy: The naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces, hosting the IONS Working Group Meeting.
IONS Working Group Meeting on Maritime Security: A meeting of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium focusing on maritime security, abbreviated as IWGMARSEC.
New Delhi: The location in India where the IONS Working Group Meeting on Maritime Security was held.
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium: A regional forum for maritime cooperation among navies of the Indian Ocean Region (abbreviated as IONS).
Maritime Domain Awareness: Understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment.
Rear Admiral Nirbhay Bapna: Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Foreign Cooperation Intelligence, who delivered the key address.
Indian Ocean Region: The geographical region encompassing the Indian Ocean and surrounding countries, where India aims to foster maritime cooperation.
Australia: One of the member nations participating in the IONS Working Group Meeting.
Ministry of Defence
INDIAN NAVY HOSTS IONS WORKING GROUP
MEETING ON MARITIME SECURITY
Posted On: 26 JUN 2025 8:56PM by PIB Delhi
The Indian Navy hosted the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Working Group Meeting on Maritime
Security (IWG-MARSEC) from 24 to 25 Jun 2025 in New Delhi. The event brought together representatives
from 13 IONS member nations: Australia, Bangladesh, France, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Oman,
Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Thailand.
As one of the key Working Groups of the IONS construct, the IWG-MARSEC serves as a dedicated platform
for dialogue, cooperation, and actionable outcomes.
Rear Admiral Nirbhay Bapna, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation & Intelligence), in the key
address, reiterated India’s steadfast commitment to fostering regional maritime cooperation in the Indian
Ocean Region (IOR) and emphasised the growing need for multilateral mechanisms to effectively address
contemporary maritime security challenges.
Over the course of the two-day event, delegates engaged in extensive deliberations aimed at strengthening
regional maritime security architecture. Discussions focused on enhancing information-sharing frameworks,
advancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), and adopting collaborative approaches to mitigate emerging
threats. The Working Group also deliberated on the formulation of harmonised operational guidelines and
practical measures to facilitate coordinated and timely regional responses.
The outcomes of the meeting are expected to play a significant role in reinforcing the collective resolve of
member navies to uphold a safe and secure IOR.
****
VM/ SKY
(Release ID: 2140005)