Indian Navy dialogue examines undersea security cooperation

The Indian Navy and the National Maritime Foundation opened the three-day Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi on November 3, with sessions examining science and research cooperation, maritime security and the protection of undersea infrastructure. The dialogue’s theme is “Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.” Discussions addressed how regional partners might strengthen underwater-domain awareness, share maritime information and protect critical infrastructure. Participants also considered opportunities and challenges within the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, including information-sharing among countries. The sessions explored these issues; they did not establish a new underwater surveillance system or a binding regional protection arrangement. A session on maritime situational awareness and critical infrastructure considered safeguarding undersea assets and seaborne trade, and improving access to oceanographic data. The Indian Ocean Commission contributed perspectives on cooperative approaches to infrastructure protection. The discussions placed undersea concerns alongside broader regional questions of maritime...