Curtains were drawn on the two-day seminar ‘Emerging Leaders Panel Discussion’ organised under the aegis of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) at Southern Naval Command, Kochi.
Delegates from 19 member countries participated in the seminar, providing an inclusive platform for young naval leaders to exchange ideas, share experiences, and deliberate on the future of maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.
In his keynote address, Vice Admiral V Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, underlined the Indian Navy’s commitment to fostering dialogue, mutual trust, and cooperative security across the Indian Ocean Region.
According to a statement from the Naval spokesperson, the two-day event included four thematic sessions. The opening session examined the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Region and the challenges faced from the perspective of young officers. It highlighted key issues in safeguarding IOR, maritime trade security, climate impact, and geopolitical dynamics while also capturing the innovative perspectives of young officers on how these challenges might be addressed.
The second session focused on ‘Emerging Technologies in Maritime Security’, wherein participants explored emerging technologies in maritime reconnaissance, AI-enabled systems, unmanned platforms, cyber threats, and space-based surveillance in support of maritime security.
The third session on ‘Future Role of IONS in Fostering Collaboration Towards Maritime Security’. Panelists emphasised the need for greater interoperability, joint exercises, and professional exchanges to strengthen regional partnerships. The final session addressed ‘Harnessing Training Capabilities Amongst IONS Countries—Future Road Map’. Discussions were centred on pooling resources, expanding training linkages, and developing common frameworks to enhance collective preparedness.
The two-day discussions concluded with a strong consensus on enhancing maritime domain awareness, technological partnerships, and shared training initiatives. Delegates reaffirmed IONS’s role as a voluntary, inclusive initiative dedicated to strengthening collective maritime security through dialogue and collaboration, the statement added.