‘Dosti’: Trilateral coast guard exercise by India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka

Context

India, Maldives and Sri Lanka are holding the 15th edition of the biennial trilateral coast guard exercise ‘Dosti’, in the Maldives.

Key-highlights

• Year 2021 marks the 30th year of the Dosti Trilateral Coast Guard Exercise.
• The exercise was first initiated in 1991, between the Indian and Maldives Coast Guard. 
• Sri Lanka joined the exercise for the first time in 2012.
• During the five-day exercise, Indian Coast Guard vessels namely ICGS Apoorva & ICGS Vajra joined the Sri Lanka Coast Guard vessel named SLCGS Suraksha.
• The Exercises carried out over the past ten years have focused on exercises and drills on providing assistance in sea accidents, eliminating sea pollution, and the Coast Guard's procedure and conduct during situations such as oil spills.

Objective

• To further fortify the friendship
• To build cooperation between Coast guards of three countries
• To enhance mutual operational capability & exercise interoperability.
• This exercise is significant for India because Maldives & Sri Lanka are of strategic importance to India & its maritime security interests.