In a landmark step reflecting India’s growing role in global maritime security, the Indian Navy has assumed command of Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154) for the first time. The task force operates under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a 47-nation coalition dedicated to maritime security and cooperation.
The formal change of command ceremony was held on 11 February 2026 at CMF Headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, and was presided over by Vice Admiral Curt A Renshaw, Commander CMF, US NAVCENT and the US Fifth Fleet. Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS), Indian Navy, along with senior military leaders from CMF member nations, attended the ceremony.
During the event, Commodore Milind M Mokashi, Shaurya Chakra, formally took over as Commander CTF 154 from his Italian Navy counterpart. The assumption of command underscores the growing trust reposed in India’s operational expertise and its emergence as a Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.
Established in May 2023, CTF 154 is dedicated to training and capacity building of CMF member nations. Its activities are structured around five core pillars: Maritime Domain Awareness, Law of the Sea, Maritime Interdiction Operations, Maritime Rescue and Assistance, and Leadership Development. The task force conducts Maritime Security Enhancement Training (MSET) programmes, exercises such as Compass Rose and Northern and Southern Readiness, and sustained outreach initiatives to enhance partner nations’ ability to counter challenges like piracy, illegal trafficking and irregular migration.
CTF 154 functions alongside 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). With the Indian Navy at the helm, the task force is expected to deliver high-impact training initiatives and further strengthen multinational maritime partnerships aimed at ensuring peace, stability and security across critical sea lanes.
