Rajnath Singh to inaugurate MILAN 2026 naval exercise in Visakhapatnam
The multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2026 will be formally inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday at the Samudrika Auditorium inside the Naval Base in Visakhapatnam.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi will also be present on the occasion. Earlier, on February 15, the MILAN Village was inaugurated by Eastern Naval Command Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla. The harbour phase of MILAN 2026 commenced on Wednesday, marked by cultural performances and a formal dinner hosted for participating delegates.
Ahead of the official inauguration, a two-day international maritime seminar will begin on Thursday.
The sea phase of MILAN 2026 is scheduled from February 21 to February 25. Both harbour and sea phases aim to enhance interoperability among participating navies, strengthen maritime domain awareness, and conduct advanced drills in areas such as anti-submarine warfare, air defence, and search-and-rescue operations.
The exercise seeks to bring together navies of friendly foreign countries to deepen professional ties, exchange operational best practices, and expand maritime cooperation.
The operational component of the exercise will focus on large-scale multilateral maritime operations, providing participating forces with experience in operating as a coordinated and cohesive maritime grouping.
Initiated by the Indian Navy in 1995, MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval engagement that began with the participation of four regional countries—Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The inaugural edition was held at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Originally aligned with India’s ‘Look East Policy’, the exercise later became part of the ‘Act East’ policy and the vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
Over the years, MILAN has expanded in scope, evolving from basic interoperability drills to complex, high-intensity warfare exercises, including anti-submarine and anti-air operations, reflecting India’s growing maritime presence.
Although traditionally hosted in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the venue was shifted to Visakhapatnam in 2020 due to its more extensive and advanced naval infrastructure. While 42 countries participated in the 2022 edition, MILAN 2026 has drawn participation from 70 nations, marking a major expansion in its global outreach.
-IANS
