Eighth India-Myanmar Naval Exercise IMNEX-26 opens at Visakhapatnam

10 November 2026

The eighth edition of the India-Myanmar Naval Exercise, IMNEX-26, opened at Visakhapatnam and runs from 10 to 14 November 2026. The opening ceremony was held on board INS Rana. India has fielded INS Rana and INS Sumedha for the drill, while Myanmar has sent the vessel UMS King Sin Phyu Shin. The exercise is meant to sharpen the two navies' ability to work together at sea and to deepen trust between the two services. India and Myanmar share a long land border and a maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal, which makes naval coordination useful against piracy, smuggling and illegal fishing. Visakhapatnam, where the drill is based, is the headquarters of the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command. Myanmar is also a member of BIMSTEC, the Bay of Bengal grouping in which India takes part.