The exercise aims to improve operational preparedness and boost regional cooperation

Indian Navy Ship INS Sunayna is in Port Victoria, Seychelles, to take part in the annual training exercise Operation Southern Readiness (OSR) of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

Members of CMF, the biggest multinational naval alliance in the world, aim at upholding international rules-based order to protect the free flow of commerce, ensure regional maritime security and deter illicit activity by non-state actors.

The Indian Navy ship is also slated to take part as an associate partner in the CMF's capacity development exercises.

This not only reinforces Indian Navy's commitment to maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region but also marks the maiden participation of an Indian Navy ship in CMF exercise, India's Ministry of Defence said on Monday.

The joint training exercise is being attended by representative delegations from USA, Italy, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and ship participation from UK, Spain & India, the ministry added.

During the visit, INS Sunayna is also expected to hold scheduled professional exchanges with the participating nations.

On September 18, Seychelles, an island country in the Indian Ocean, hosted the start of a two-week deployment by the CMF to improve operational preparedness and boost regional cooperation.

A total of 34 countries make up the CMF, and its troops are active in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Northern Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean.

In collaboration with the Seychelles People's Defence Force, the European Union Naval Force, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and India, CMF is in charge of this Operation Southern Readiness (OSR) exercise. This is CMF’s first version of Operation Southern Readiness.