Indian Navy hands over Command of CTF 154

The Indian Navy successfully completed its maiden Command of a Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Task Force, with the relinquishment of Command of Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154) at a ceremony held in Manama, Bahrain, on Wednesday. The eight-month tenure marked a significant milestone in India's growing contribution to multinational maritime training, capacity building and collaborative maritime security. The Indian Navy assumed command of on February 11, 2026, which was established in May 2023 at CMF headquarters in Manama, Bahrain.
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.
India joined the Combined Maritime Forces as an Associate Partner in 2022 and became a full member in 2023. The successful completion of its maiden Command of CTF 154 represents an important progression in India's engagement with the multinational maritime partnership. The tenure demonstrated the Indian Navy's ability to plan, coordinate and deliver multinational training initiatives, bringing together diverse nations, institutions and operational expertise in support of shared maritime security objectives.
The ceremony was attended by VAdm Curt A Renshaw, Commander Combined Maritime Forces; 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. During the ceremony, 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.