The first edition of the biannual Naval Commanders’ Conference 2026 concluded on Friday in New Delhi, bringing together top leadership of the Indian Navy for a comprehensive review of operational readiness and future strategy, an official statement issued by the Defence PRO said. The four-day conference, held from 14 to 17 April, focused on key areas including operational preparedness, infrastructure, logistics, and human resources, along with an assessment of the current global security environment. Focus on changing maritime security landscape The conference began with an address by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), who highlighted the growing complexity of maritime security. He pointed to ongoing conflicts, particularly in West Asia, the weakening of global rules-based systems, and increasing threats from non-state actors as major challenges shaping the Navy’s operational environment. The CNS stressed the importance of maintaining high combat readiness and adopting emerging technologies to build a future-ready naval force. He also underlined the Navy’s responsibilities in the Indian Ocean Region and called for stronger cooperation with friendly foreign countries through joint exercises and …