MANAMA, Bahrain (Oct. 14, 2026) – Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) India-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154) brought together 135 participants from 25 countries and 19 organizations for the inaugural Subject Matter Expert Exchange on Piracy and Armed Robbery (SPAR), Oct. 5-6, 2026.
The two-day symposium involved maritime forces, law enforcement authorities, international organizations, legal specialists, technology providers and representatives from the shipping industry.
“One of the clearest messages from SPAR 2026 is that counter-piracy depends on a coordinated multinational and multi-agency effort,” said Indian Navy Commodore Milind M Mokashi, commander of CTF 154. “SPAR gave us an opportunity to examine those connections together and identify where future training and cooperation may add practical value.”
Participants examined the changing piracy threat and how operations, information-sharing, law enforcement, legal processes and maritime capacity-building support a coordinated international response.
Sessions covered recent counter-piracy operations, maritime interdiction and boarding, regional law enforcement, information-sharing, prosecution and evidence requirements, port responses and surveillance technology.
Current and former representatives of Combined Task Force 151 gave operational perspectives. Discussions also considered how uncrewed systems and space-based surveillance could improve maritime awareness and help detect suspicious activity.
SPAR 2026 drew on lessons from CTF 154’s currentcommand tenure. Earlier activity under the CMF Maritime Domain Enhancement Training framework covered maritime law and law enforcement, information and evidence, emerging technology and other aspects of maritime security.
The exchange also built on multinational training delivered through Operation Compass Rose 26-1 and Operation Southern Readiness 26-2.
Feedback from the event will inform future CTF 154 training, specialist exchanges and maritime security engagement. SPAR 2026 was the final major engagement of the current India-led command tenure, which began Feb. 11, 2026.
CTF 154 was established in May 2023 and is one of five operational task forces under CMF.
CMF, headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet, is the largest multinational naval partnership in the world, with 47 nations committed to upholding the international rules-based order at sea. It promotes security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
