New Delhi, February 12: In a significant milestone for India’s expanding maritime footprint, the Indian Navy has assumed command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 154 — a key multinational training task force under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
The change of command ceremony was held on February 11 at the CMF Headquarters in Manama, Bahrain. The event was presided over by Vice Admiral Curt A. Renshaw, Commander, CMF/US NAVCENT/US Fifth Fleet, and attended by Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS), along with senior military leaders from member nations.
Commodore Milind M. Mokashi, Shaurya Chakra, formally took over as Commander CTF 154 from his Italian Navy counterpart, marking the first time India has led the task force.
CTF 154, established in May 2023, is dedicated to training and capacity building among CMF’s 47 member nations. The task force focuses on strengthening maritime security through multinational training initiatives across the Middle East and the wider region.
Its core areas of training include Maritime Domain Awareness, Law of the Sea, Maritime Interdiction Operations, Maritime Rescue and Assistance, and Leadership Development. CTF 154 regularly conducts Maritime Security Enhancement Training (MSET) events and exercises such as Compass Rose and Northern/Southern Readiness, aimed at enhancing partner nations’ ability to counter piracy, illegal trafficking, and irregular migration.
CTF 154 operates alongside other CMF task forces, including CTF 150 (Maritime Security), CTF 151 (Counter-Piracy), CTF 152 (Arabian Gulf Maritime Security), and CTF 153 (Red Sea Maritime Security).
India’s assumption of command is seen as recognition of its growing role as a preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond, reinforcing its commitment to collaborative maritime security and global stability. (PIB)
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