In a significant advancement for India’s influence in global maritime security, the Indian Navy has taken command of Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154) for the first time. This task force operates under the aegis of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), comprising a coalition of 47 nations committed to enhancing maritime security and cooperation.
The formal change of command ceremony took place on 11 February 2026 at the CMF Headquarters in Manama, Bahrain. Vice Admiral Curt A. Renshaw, Commander CMF, US NAVCENT, and the US Fifth Fleet, presided over the event, which was attended by Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, and various senior military leaders from CMF member nations.
During the ceremony, Commodore Milind M. Mokashi, Shaurya Chakra, officially took over as Commander of CTF 154 from his Italian counterpart. This transition underscores the growing faith in India’s operational capabilities and its evolution as a Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.
CTF 154, established in May 2023, focuses on the training and capacity building of CMF member nations. The task force’s initiatives are organized around five primary pillars: Maritime Domain Awareness, the Law of the Sea, Maritime Interdiction Operations, Maritime Rescue and Assistance, and Leadership Development. It conducts specialized programs like Maritime Security Enhancement Training (MSET), along with exercises such as Compass Rose and both Northern and Southern Readiness. These efforts aim to bolster partner nations’ abilities to address challenges such as piracy, illegal trafficking, and irregular migration.
In collaboration with other CMF task forces—including CTF 150 (Maritime Security), CTF 151 (Counter-Piracy), CTF 152 (Maritime Security in the Arabian Gulf), and CTF 153 (Maritime Security in the Red Sea)—CTF 154, under Indian Navy’s leadership, is anticipated to deliver impactful training initiatives. This is expected to further solidify multinational maritime partnerships, fostering peace, stability, and security across critical maritime routes.
