The Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue opened in New Delhi on November 3, bringing scientific research, academic partnerships and maritime technology into the Indian Navy’s annual international strategic discussions.
Organised with the National Maritime Foundation, the three-day event is examining ways to turn cooperation in science and education into practical regional arrangements.
According to the defence ministry’s opening-day report, the first session considered an Indian Ocean academic network and stronger links between universities, think tanks and governments. Participants contributed perspectives from France, Indonesia, Japan and the Maldives.
A second session addressed information-sharing, underwater awareness and the protection of shipping and critical maritime infrastructure. It included discussion of the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness and contributions from the Indian Ocean Commission.
The programme also featured an interaction with diplomatic representatives of Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Norway.
These were conference discussions rather than announcements that a new regional network had already begun operating. The opening-day agenda placed research collaboration alongside the practical challenges of protecting ocean infrastructure and responding to climate-related risks.
Participants at the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue in New Delhi on November 3, 2026. Photo: Ministry of Defence / PIB, reproduced under PIB’s copyright policy. Resized.
