The ongoing 15th edition of the biennial trilateral coast guard exercise ‘Dosti’, involving India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, is currently in progress in the Maldives. This year, 2021, commemorates 30 years since the initiation of these exercises.
Origin of the Exercise
The exercise was first commenced in 1991 and was originally a bilateral event between the Indian and Maldives Coast Guard forces. However, in 2012, Sri Lanka joined the exercises, thereby converting it into a trilateral venture.
Focus of the Exercises
In the past decade, the exercises have majorly centered around conducting drills and providing assistance in cases of sea accidents, contributing to the elimination of sea pollution, and enhancing the Coast Guard’s response mechanism during calamities such as oil spills. With each edition, the exercises have seen a gradual addition of complexity and broader involvement.
Indian Contribution to the Current Exercise
For the 2021 edition of Dosti, the Indian Coast Guard has deployed two of its vessels – Vajra and Apoorva. These strategic assets will contribute to the overall aim of the exercise while fostering goodwill and camaraderie among the three nations.
Purpose of the Exercise
The primary objective of this trilateral event is to strengthen the bonds of friendship, augment mutual operational capability, bolster interoperability, and cultivate cooperation among the Coast Guards of Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka. This exercise aids in improving their collective response mechanisms to maritime crises or emergencies by enhancing synergy and coordination.
Recent Developments in Security Cooperation
In August 2021, a significant development was observed among these three countries as they agreed upon strengthening cooperation based on the “four pillars” of security cooperation. These pillars encompass marine security, human trafficking, counter-terrorism, and cyber security. This combined strategy aims at ensuring holistic maritime security in the region against common threats.
Intelligence Sharing Agreement
Earlier, the three countries had expressed their mutual understanding to widen the scope of intelligence sharing, as this forms a critical aspect of maintaining security and stability in any region. The sharing of information aids in creating an integrated approach for dealing with potential security threats.
Bilateral Exercises with India
Apart from the trilateral Dosti exercise, there are other bilateral exercises that India conducts with Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Specifically, Exercise MITRA SHAKTI, a military exercise, and SLINEX, a naval exercise with Sri Lanka. Similarly, with the Maldives, India participates in Exercise Ekuverin, another military exercise.
