The Indian Navy has successfully completed its maiden command of a Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Task Force. The milestone was marked by the relinquishment of Combined Task Force 154 on Wednesday during a ceremony in Manama, Bahrain. 

Cmde Milind M Mokashi, formally relinquished Command of CTF 154 and handed over responsibilities to Commander Melissa Desjardins, Deputy Commander CTF 154, who received Command on behalf of CMF Headquarters, the Defence Ministry said.

The eight-month tenure marked a watershed moment in India's growing contribution to multinational maritime training, capacity building and collaborative security.

The event was attended by VAdm Curt A Renshaw, Commander Combined Maritime Forces; HE Dr Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Bahrain; Cmde Khalid Jasim Althawadi, Naval Sector Commander, Royal Bahrain Naval Force; Cmde Dan Thomas, Deputy Commander Combined Maritime Forces; and senior representatives of CMF Headquarters and Partner Nations. VAdm Manish Chadha, Director General Naval Operations, Indian Navy, participated through video teleconferencing. 

The CTF 154 is CMF's dedicated multinational maritime training Task Force, mandated to enhance professional competencies, interoperability and capacity development among Partner Nations.

The Indian Navy assumed Command of CTF 154 on 11 February 2026, becoming the first Indian Navy contingent to lead a CMF Task Force.

During its tenure, the Indian Navy-led CTF 154 conducted 20 Staff Enhancement Training engagements, two major multinational training exercises and the inaugural Subject Matter Expert Exchange on Piracy and Armed Robbery (SPAR 2026). 

These initiatives collectively generated over 7,800 training hours, with personnel from 39 countries participating in CTF 154 activities. 

The Staff Enhancement Training and SPAR engagements alone recorded over 1,100 participant attendances, reflecting the scale and reach of the training initiatives undertaken during the Command, the statement said.

A major highlight was Operation Compass Rose 26-1. Conducted virtually from April 20 to 22, 2026, due to the prevailing regional security environment, the exercise demonstrated the ability of CMF partners to sustain multinational training and operational coordination despite regional constraints.

Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, conducted at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi, from 20 to 23 Jul 2026, marked the first major CMF training exercise hosted by India. 

The concluding major training engagement was SPAR 2026, conducted on 05 and 06 Oct 2026, it added. 

India joined the Combined Maritime Forces as an Associate Partner in 2022 and became a full member in 2023.