Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will officially open the MILAN 2026 multilateral naval exercise at the Samudrika Auditorium in Visakhapatnam Naval Base. The event will be attended by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi. Prior to this, the MILAN Village was launched by Eastern Naval Command Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla on February 15. The harbour phase of MILAN 2026 began with cultural performances and a formal dinner for delegates.
A two-day international maritime seminar will precede the exercise’s formal inauguration. The sea phase of MILAN 2026 is set to commence on February 21 and will run until February 25. Both phases aim to improve cooperation among participating navies, enhance maritime awareness, and conduct advanced drills in various areas such as anti-submarine warfare and air defense.
MILAN 2026 aims to foster stronger professional relationships, share operational best practices, and expand maritime collaboration among friendly foreign navies. The exercise will focus on large-scale multilateral maritime operations to provide participating forces with valuable experience in coordinated maritime activities. Initiated by the Indian Navy in 1995, MILAN started with the participation of Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
The exercise has evolved over the years from basic interoperability drills to more complex warfare scenarios, reflecting India’s growing maritime influence. Initially held in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the venue was shifted to Visakhapatnam in 2020 due to its advanced naval facilities. While 42 nations took part in the 2022 edition, the current edition has attracted 70 countries, showcasing a significant increase in global participation.
