The Navy will host the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue in New Delhi from November 3

The Indian Navy will host the 2026 edition of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD). Credit: maritimeindia.org

The Indian Navy will host the 2026 edition of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) in New Delhi from November 3 to 5, bringing together sailors, scientists, academicians, policy makers and experts from 18 countries to explore cooperation in science, technology and research.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to deliver a commemorative address on the inaugural day of the event, which is being held in collaboration with the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), the Navy’s knowledge partner and main organizer of the dialogue.

According to a Defense Ministry release on Friday, the three-day conference will focus on “Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific”.

Discussions will seek to identify practical measures to strengthen regional cooperation in marine research, ocean governance, climate resilience and emerging technologies against a backdrop of increasing vulnerability in maritime supply chains, pressure on marine resources and threats to critical maritime infrastructure.

The annual dialogue is a major international strategic initiative of the Indian Navy. It seeks to translate the broad framework of the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative (IPOI), announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the East Asia Summit in Bangkok, Thailand in November 2019, into practical proposals for regional cooperation. The initiative is also in line with India’s maritime vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth across Regions).

The five thematic meetings of IPRD-2026 will cover academic networks, research and human capital development; maritime situational awareness and protection of critical maritime infrastructure; oceanographic science and climate resilience; cooperative approaches to ocean governance and maritime resilience; and transformative maritime technologies and their dual-use implications.

The talks will explore avenues for joint research, joint technology development, scientific data sharing and stronger institutional partnerships. The conference will also look beyond STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), recognizing the role of the social sciences, life sciences and humanities in addressing complex maritime challenges.

The opening day will feature a special session on ‘Perspectives from the Flag Bridge’, which will bring together former Navy Chiefs from India and Sri Lanka, and a meeting of ambassadors called ‘Sahyog Ka Samvaad’. The program will also include ministerial and other special speeches.

A Defense Ministry statement said the dialogue will focus on identifying concrete and actionable measures at the national, sub-regional and pan-regional levels that could be implemented through existing bilateral, trilateral and multilateral mechanisms to strengthen cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.

Published – 23 Oct 2026 21:36 IST