India assumes leadership of multinational naval training force amid rising strategic role as the country has assumed command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 154, marking a significant step in its commitment to collaborative maritime security and capacity building in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.
The change-of-command ceremony was held on 11 February 2026 at the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Headquarters in Manama, Bahrain. It was presided over by Vice Admiral Curt A. Renshaw, Commander of CMF, US NAVCENT and the US Fifth Fleet.
Commodore Milind M. Mokashi, a Shaurya Chakra awardee of the Indian Navy, formally took over as Commander of CTF 154 from the outgoing Commander of the Italian Navy. Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, along with senior military leaders from member nations, attended the ceremony.
CTF 154 is a key multinational training task force under the Combined Maritime Forces and is focused on training and capacity building among member countries. The development reflects growing regional trust in India’s professional expertise, operational experience, and its role as a Preferred Security Partner among the 47 nations of the CMF.
Established in May 2023, the task force is dedicated to enhancing maritime security through multinational training programmes across the Middle East and the wider region.
Its training framework is built around five core pillars: Maritime Domain Awareness, Law of the Sea, Maritime Interdiction Operations, Maritime Rescue and Assistance, and Leadership Development.
CTF 154 conducts regular Maritime Security Enhancement Training events, exercises such as Compass Rose and Northern and Southern Readiness, and outreach initiatives aimed at strengthening partner nations’ operational capabilities against threats including illegal trafficking, piracy, and irregular migration.
The task force operates alongside other CMF formations – CTF 150 for Maritime Security, CTF 151 for Counter-Piracy, CTF 152 for Maritime Security in the Arabian Gulf, and CTF 153 for Maritime Security in the Red Sea.
The Indian Navy said it looks forward to a productive tenure focused on delivering high-impact training initiatives while reinforcing global maritime partnerships for peace, prosperity, and security.
