The Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 concluded, solidifying India's role in fostering collaborative ocean governance and responsible maritime technology adoption across the Indo-Pacific. The three-day event, hosted by the Indian Navy, forged pathways for regional partners to enhance maritime resilience and security through shared scientific expertise and strategic cooperation.
New Delhi – India has taken a leading role in shaping the future of maritime security and resource management in the Indo-Pacific, as the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 (IPRD-2026) concluded with a strong emphasis on cooperative ocean governance and the responsible deployment of dual-use maritime technologies. Organised by the Indian Navy in association with the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), the annual strategic dialogue brought together over forty experts from twenty countries to chart actionable outcomes under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
The IPRD-2026 serves as a crucial platform for advancing India’s comprehensive maritime vision, encapsulated by MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). The dialogue reinforced India’s commitment to enhancing regional maritime security and fostering collaborative approaches to strengthen resilience across the critical Indo-Pacific theatre.
Advancing Collaborative Ocean Governance
A pivotal session, moderated by VAdm Sanjay Jasjit Singh (Retd), Director-General, United Service Institution of India, focused on ‘Collaborative Approaches to Ocean Governance and Maritime Resilience’. Discussions highlighted the imperative to integrate scientific capabilities with robust governance frameworks and ensure equitable research partnerships.
- Professor Deo Florence Onda of the University of the Philippines outlined a cooperative plan for sharing Filipino expertise in ocean governance.
- Dr. Marie Bourrel-McKinnon, former Chief of Staff in the International Seabed Authority, advocated for equitable deep-sea research partnerships and resource governance models.
- Mr. Ramraj Narasimhan from the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) presented an overview of the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) programme.
- Ms. Sofia Furstenberg-Stott of Future Maritime, Sweden, explored strategies to strengthen the interface between marine science and shipping operations.
This session underscored the multifaceted challenge of linking scientific advancement with effective governance, bolstering vulnerable island states, and ensuring that scientific knowledge directly informs maritime industry and public policy decisions.
Navigating Transformative Maritime Technologies
The dialogue’s final session, ‘Transformative Maritime Technologies and Dual-Use Implications’, moderated by Rear Admiral Guninder Singh Jawanda (Retd), Indian Navy, delved into the complex character of emerging technologies and their strategic implications.
- Ms. Dongyoun Cho of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Germany, proposed a practical framework for Indo-Pacific cooperation on artificial intelligence and quantum technologies in the maritime domain.
- Dr. Eva Pejsova from the Brussels School of Governance addressed EU–Indo-Pacific mechanisms for the responsible governance of dual-use maritime technologies.
- Captain Mark Blaine (Retd), South African Navy, from Stellenbosch University, discussed a cooperation roadmap to assist small and medium navies in adapting to these technological shifts.
- Commodore Arun Golaya (Retd) considered operational Navy-to-Navy cooperation for the responsible adoption of these advanced capabilities.
The discussions illuminated the inherent dual-use nature of advanced maritime technologies, exploring avenues for collaborative research, practical capacity-building, and institutional arrangements that enable partners with diverse resources and requirements to meaningfully participate in technological evolution.
The three-day conference, which commenced with a special address by Gen NS Raja Subramani, Chief of Defence Staff, concluded with a valedictory address by Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary, Government of India. The broad participation from military practitioners, policymakers, industry representatives, diplomats, academia, and students underscored the dialogue’s significance in fostering a shared understanding and commitment towards a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Reporting and source materials courtesy of Press Information Bureau.
