← 2 October 2026's Current Affairs · Defence GA Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆
ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise 2026 Begins at Subic Bay
Why in News?
Indian Navy sails to Subic Bay: the AIME-2026 exercise that links Act East to ASEAN for GS-II
AIME-2026, the second ASEAN-India maritime exercise, began at Subic Bay on 28 September.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 min read
The second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) began on 28 September 2026 at Subic Bay in the Philippines.
The exercise brings the Indian Navy together with ASEAN navies.
It reflects India's Act East policy and its maritime outreach to Southeast Asia.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- AIME-2026 is the second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise.
- It began on 28 September 2026 at Subic Bay, Philippines.
- The exercise brings the Indian Navy together with ASEAN navies.
- It reflects India's Act East policy and maritime outreach to Southeast Asia.
- Subic Bay lies on the western coast of Luzon island.
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- AIME-2026 is the second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, held at Subic Bay in the Philippines.
- The exercise involves the Indian Navy along with navies of ASEAN member states.
- Such exercises are linked to India's Act East policy, which focuses on engagement with the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia.
Mains
GS-II (International Relations) and GS-III (Security): Maritime exercises with ASEAN navies show how India's Act East policy turns into defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. They build interoperability, maritime domain awareness and trust with partners facing shared sea-lane and security concerns. The way forward lies in regular, wider-participation drills, joint capacity building and aligning them with ASEAN centrality.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
The second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) began at Subic Bay, which is located in:
- Vietnam
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- the Philippines
Show answer
Answer: D — Correct: the Philippines — Subic Bay lies on the western coast of Luzon in the Philippines. • Vietnam — wrong: Vietnam's naval ports include Cam Ranh Bay and Da Nang, not Subic Bay. • Indonesia — wrong: Indonesia's major naval bases, such as Surabaya, are not at Subic Bay. • Malaysia — wrong: Malaysia's naval hubs such as Lumut are different from Subic Bay.
Convert this topic into marks
Today's 10-MCQ test · instant analysis · Powered by AdaptIQ