INDIAN NAVY TAKES THE HELM OF CTF-154
In a major milestone for global maritime cooperation, the Indian Navy has assumed command of Combined Task Force 154 (CTF-154) for the very first time. This isn’t just a change of command.
The handover went down on 11 February 2026 at the headquarters of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in Manama, Bahrain. The ceremony was overseen by Curt A. Renshaw, Commander of CMF / US NAVCENT / US Fifth Fleet. India was represented at the highest level by Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff.
Command of CTF-154 was formally passed to Milind M. Mokashi, Shaurya Chakra awardee, from his Italian Navy counterpart—marking India’s official entry into the driver’s seat of this multinational training force.
Formed in May 2023, CTF-154 is CMF’s dedicated engine for training and capacity building. It’s where navies learn, adapt, and level up together. India being entrusted with this role says one thing plainly: trust earned, credibility locked.
The task force sharpens maritime muscle across five core verticals:
- Maritime Domain Awareness
- Law of the Sea
- Maritime Interdiction Operations
- Maritime Rescue & Assistance
- Leadership Development
Through Maritime Security Enhancement Training (MSET), exercises like Compass Rose and Northern/Southern Readiness, and continuous regional outreach, CTF-154 builds real-world capability to counter piracy, illegal trafficking, and irregular migration—threats that don’t respect borders, but demand unity.
CTF-154 operates in sync with CMF’s other task forces:
- CTF-150 (Maritime Security)
- CTF-151 (Counter-Piracy)
- CTF-152 (Arabian Gulf Security)
- CTF-153 (Red Sea Security)
Among 47 CMF member nations, India’s leadership of CTF-154 reinforces its position as a Preferred Security Partner - steady, skilled, and globally trusted.
Read more:
Indian Navy’s ₹70,000-Crore Project 75(I) Submarine Programme Nears CCS Approval
Sagar Defence Takes Strategic Stake in Drone Start-up Endure Air Systems
