Exercise Dosti:
Indian and Sri Lankan coast guard ships reached the Maldives recently to take part in the trilateral coast guard exercise Dosti 16.
- Dosti 16 is the 16th edition of the exercise.
- The Coast Guards of the Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka, along with observers from Bangladesh, are participating in Dosti 16 to enhance collaboration between the forces.
- India is sending ICGS Samarth, ICGS Abhinav, and ICG Dornier for the exercise.
- Exercise Dosti is a trilateral coast guard exercise between India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
- It is a biennial exercise.
- It was first conducted in 1991 between the Indian and Maldives Coast Guards. Sri Lanka joined the exercise for the first time in 2012.
- The exercises have focused on exercises and drills on providing assistance in sea accidents, eliminating sea pollution, and the Coast Guard’s procedures and conduct during situations such as oil spills.
- The aim of the exercise is to further fortify the friendship, enhance mutual operational capability, exercise interoperability and build cooperation between the Coast Guards of India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.