The Indian Navy (IN) marked the culmination of the multinational IOS SAGAR deployment with the flag-in of INS Sunayna at Kochi on 20 May 2026. The deployment involved 38 personnel from 16 partner nations across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and was presented as a demonstration of India’s emergence as the preferred security partner in the region. The mission was described as reinforcing collaboration, interoperability and capacity building among IOR navies and maritime agencies.

The ship sailed from Mumbai in April 2026 and conducted port calls at Malé, Phuket, Jakarta, Singapore, Yangon, Chattogram and Colombo, enabling direct engagement with partner maritime forces. Participating nations included Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Maldives, Mozambique, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor Leste and the United Arab Emirates. The deployment was framed as a comprehensive operational engagement combining exercises, exchanges and coordinated seamanship activities to strengthen regional maritime safety and freedom of navigation.

The flag-in ceremony at Kochi featured water cannon salutes and an escort by Naval Fast Interceptor Craft, with senior officers from the Southern Naval Command in attendance. Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command, served as chief guest and commended the multinational crew for professionalism and seamless integration during the prolonged deployment. The flag officer emphasised that the deployment enhanced interoperability, operational coordination and mutual understanding through joint training and professional exchanges.

Prior to departure, the multinational crew underwent comprehensive harbour training at Southern Naval Command, Kochi, covering seamanship, navigation, firefighting, damage control, communication procedures and visit, board, search and seizure operations. The crew also participated in the IONS Maritime Exercise IMEX 2026 table top exercise at Kochi to further professionalise interoperability and operational preparedness. The completion of IOS SAGAR is presented as a defining milestone in India’s maritime outreach, reaffirming the navy’s commitment to building trusted partnerships and promoting cooperative security across the IOR.