The fifth edition of the Goa Maritime Conclave, GMC-26, was held at the Naval War College in Goa on 21 February 2026 and brought together chiefs of navies and senior maritime leaders from 15 Indian Ocean Region (IOR) nations. The event reaffirmed collective commitment to strengthen cooperative mechanisms to address maritime security challenges across the IOR. Organised by the Indian Navy, the conclave was aligned with the Prime Minister's MAHASAGAR vision for mutual and holistic advancement for security and growth across regions.

Admiral Arun Prakash, retired former Chief of the Naval Staff, delivered a keynote that underlined the need for synchronised regional responses anchored in real time information exchanges, institutional coordination and sustained capacity development. He stressed that tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, trafficking networks and other transnational maritime crimes required collective ownership and shared responsibility among IOR partners. The session chaired by Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, retired, examined mechanisms for real time maritime information sharing and operational coordination.

A second session focused on collaborative pathways for capacity building and capability enhancement among maritime agencies. Speakers discussed pooling regional training resources, expanding professional exchange programmes and strengthening institutional frameworks to ensure sustained maritime resilience. Moderators and senior fellows highlighted the importance of long term investment in professional development and regional training networks to support interoperable responses and coordinated operations across jurisdictions.

The conclave concluded with addresses by chiefs of navies and heads of delegations who articulated national perspectives on advancing collaborative lines of effort to mitigate dynamic maritime threats. The Chief of the Naval Staff conveyed appreciation to partner nations for their participation and emphasised the need to transition from shared awareness to coordinated action by leveraging technology, seamless information sharing and focused operations. Deliberations reflected convergence on strengthening regional partnerships, institutionalising cooperation mechanisms and enhancing collective capacity for safe, secure and stable seas.