New Delhi, Oct 14. The Indian Navy will hand over command of Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154) at a ceremony in Manama, Bahrain, on October 14, completing its first-ever tenure as commander of a task force under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a multinational maritime security partnership.
During its tenure, which began on February 11, 2026, the Indian Navy conducted an extensive programme of multinational training and capacity-building activities, generating more than 7,800 training hours and involving personnel from 39 countries.
CTF 154 is the CMF’s dedicated maritime training task force, mandated to strengthen professional capabilities, interoperability and operational preparedness among the 47 nations participating in the partnership.
India joined the CMF as an associate partner in 2022 before becoming a full member in 2023. Its assumption of command of CTF 154 earlier this year marked a significant step in the Indian Navy’s engagement with the multinational coalition.
Under Indian leadership, the task force conducted a sustained series of training activities under the CMF’s Maritime Domain Enhancement Training framework. These included 20 Staff Enhancement Training engagements, Operation Compass Rose 26-1, Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 and the first Subject Matter Expert Exchange on Piracy and Armed Robbery, designated SPAR 2026.
The training programme covered a broad spectrum of maritime security issues through virtual, hybrid and in-person engagements. It drew on expertise from the Indian Navy, CMF task forces, partner nations, regional maritime agencies and specialised international organisations.
The Indian Navy-led tenure also expanded professional exchanges with operational task forces, regional partners and specialist institutions, strengthening cooperation in multinational training and laying the groundwork for future capacity-building initiatives.
The handover in Bahrain marks another milestone in India’s growing participation in the CMF and underscores its contribution to cooperative maritime security efforts in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.
The tenure has further strengthened the Indian Navy’s standing as a preferred security and training partner in the region, reflecting India’s commitment to enhancing collective maritime capabilities through international cooperation.
