India Expands Joint Military Drills in Andaman & Nicobar as INS Trikand Mission in Mauritius Signals Wider Indian Ocean Security Posture
India’s armed forces have intensified joint military training and expanded their maritime footprint across the Indian Ocean region, signalling a broader push to strengthen operational readiness and regional partnerships as global security tensions rise.
 |
| Image Via: Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) |
“ANC continues its alignment towards professional excellence by conducting tri-services training at Nicobar Islands in coordination with troops from mainland formations,” the command said, adding that the exercise strengthened “jointmanship, interoperability and combat readiness of multi-service assault troops.”
The drills are significant because the Andaman and Nicobar Command is India’s only integrated theatre command, overseeing the strategically critical island chain near key global shipping routes linking the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.
The training comes alongside broader efforts by the Indian military to refine multi-domain warfighting capabilities.
The Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command, working with the Army’s Northern, Western and South-Western Commands, recently conducted Exercise All Domain Joint Operations (ADJO) 2026, designed to test integrated combat operations across air, land, sea, space, cyber and electronic warfare environments.
According to the Air Force, the exercise involved fighters, helicopters, transport aircraft and unmanned aerial systems, supported by the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) to enable real-time coordination between services.
Joint teams operated in “challenging and demanding realistic scenarios,” the command said, testing integrated planning, flexible decision-making and real-time information sharing while also evaluating logistics, rapid repair capability, medical support and humanitarian assistance operations.
Officials said the exercise demonstrated a “whole-of-nation approach to defence” involving the Indian Air Force, Army, Navy, state governments and national agencies, while also highlighting indigenous capabilities aligned with the country’s Atmanirbhar Bharat defence strategy.
At sea, the Indian Navy has simultaneously maintained a visible presence across the wider Indian Ocean.
The stealth frigate INS Trikand concluded a port call in Port Louis, Mauritius, where it participated in the island nation’s 58th National Day celebrations with a marching contingent, naval band and helicopter fly-past at the national parade in Champ de Mars.
During the visit, the ship’s commanding officer Captain Sachin Kulkarni met Mauritian officials including Police Commissioner Rampersad Sooroojebally and India’s High Commissioner to Mauritius Anurag Srivastava, while the ship hosted cultural engagements and professional exchanges with Mauritian counterparts.
🇮🇳 🤝 🇲🇺 #INSTrikand, stealth frigate of #IndianNavy called at Port Louis, Mauritius on #10Mar 26 during her ongoing operational deployment in the SW #IndianOceanRegion.
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 11, 2026
During the port call, the Commanding Officer will call on senior Government and Mauritius Coast Guard… pic.twitter.com/DBmLv0VNtO
Training sessions were also conducted for personnel of the Mauritius National Coast Guard, covering practical aspects of harbour and sea watchkeeping, firefighting and damage control.
More than 500 visitors toured the ship during its open-deck day, which reflected the longstanding naval cooperation between the two countries.
After departing Port Louis, INS Trikand conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) and joint Exclusive Economic Zone surveillance with the Mauritian Coast Guard vessel CGS Valiant before continuing its operational deployment in the south-western Indian Ocean.
The Navy said the port call reaffirmed India’s maritime cooperation with Mauritius and aligned with its MAHASAGAR vision — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
These activities across Nicobar, mainland joint commands and the western Indian Ocean show the growing emphasis on integrated military readiness and maritime diplomacy at a time when global security tensions — including the escalating war in West Asia — are reshaping strategic calculations across the Indo-Pacific.
While India is not directly involved in the ongoing war, the scale and geographic spread of recent military exercises and naval deployments reflect a defence posture focused on maintaining readiness across multiple theatres, safeguarding maritime routes and reinforcing partnerships across the Indian Ocean region.
If you like our reporting, you can add Indianrepublic.in as a preferred source on google here.