Terror, new challenges need all navies to join hands, says Rajnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 13th edition of Exercise MILAN 2026 at Visakhapatnam on February 19, with participation from 74 nations
The exercise is the largest and most inclusive edition in its history, with naval ships, aircraft, and professional delegations from participating countries
Singh highlighted evolving maritime risks including terrorism, piracy, surging commerce, resource competition, and climate change, urging global naval cooperation
India invited ASEAN countries to leverage its growing defence-industrial capabilities
The exercise runs from February 18-26, 2026, and is being conducted under the Eastern Naval Command
Exercise MILAN — History and Evolution
MILAN (Multilateral Indian-Led Activity at Nagapattinam, later at Andaman & Nicobar and then Visakhapatnam) is a biennial multilateral naval exercise initiated by the Indian Navy in February 1995 at Port Blair. Originally hosted under the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the inaugural edition included navies from only four countries — Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. It has since grown exponentially: 17 nations in 2014, and 74 nations in 2026.
Key Details
- Inaugurated: February 1995, Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Command)
- Frequency: Biennial (skipped in 2001 and 2016 due to International Fleet Reviews, 2005 postponed to 2006 due to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, 2020 cancelled due to COVID-19)
- Shifted to Visakhapatnam: 11th edition (2022) was the first held under the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam
- 2026 edition: 13th edition, 74 nations, largest in history; invitations extended to over 135 countries
- Components: Harbour phase (seminars, tabletop exercises, social events) + Sea phase (joint operational drills)
The growth from 4 nations in 1995 to 74 in 2026 reflects India's rising stature as a net maritime security provider in the Indian Ocean Region and its expanded naval diplomacy footprint.
India's Maritime Security Doctrine — SAGAR to IPOI to MAHASAGAR
India's maritime security framework has evolved through three conceptual phases. SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), outlined by PM Modi in March 2015 in Mauritius, emphasised cooperative security, capacity building, and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean. The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), launched at the East Asia Summit in Bangkok in November 2019, expanded this to a seven-pillar framework for practical cooperation across the wider Indo-Pacific. In March 2025, India launched MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), extending the vision to the Global South.
Key Details
- SAGAR (2015): Five pillars — maritime safety, economic cooperation, regional connectivity, sustainable development, disaster relief; focused on Indian Ocean Region
- IPOI (2019): Seven pillars — maritime security, maritime ecology, maritime resources, capacity building, disaster risk reduction, S&T cooperation, trade and transport; non-treaty, voluntary framework at East Asia Summit
- MAHASAGAR (2025): Broader vision encompassing traditional and non-traditional security, trade connectivity, and capacity-building for the Global South
- India is a founding member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA, 1997) and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS, 2008)
MILAN 2026 operationalises the SAGAR-IPOI-MAHASAGAR framework by building interoperability with 74 navies, directly serving India's goal of being a preferred security partner in the Indo-Pacific.
India's Multilateral and Bilateral Naval Exercises
India conducts one of the most extensive series of naval exercises globally. These range from bilateral exercises (Malabar with US/Japan/Australia, Varuna with France, SIMBEX with Singapore, Tasman Saber with Australia) to multilateral platforms (RIMPAC, MILAN). These exercises enhance interoperability, information sharing, and collective maritime domain awareness.
Key Details
- Malabar: Started 1992 as India-US bilateral; expanded to include Japan (2015 permanently) and Australia (2020)
- Varuna: India-France bilateral naval exercise, started 1993; reflects the deep India-France strategic partnership
- RIMPAC: World's largest international maritime exercise hosted by US Pacific Fleet; India has participated since 2014
- IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium): Founded by India in 2008; 35 member navies; voluntary initiative for maritime cooperation
- Quad maritime cooperation: India, US, Japan, Australia coordinate through joint exercises and maritime domain awareness sharing
MILAN 2026 complements India's bilateral exercise framework by providing a single platform where 74 navies interact simultaneously, building the kind of mass multilateral interoperability that bilateral exercises cannot achieve alone.
- MILAN 2026: 13th edition, February 18-26, Visakhapatnam, 74 participating nations
- First MILAN: 1995, Port Blair, 4 nations (Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand)
- Shifted to Visakhapatnam: 2022 (11th edition, first under Eastern Naval Command)
- SAGAR doctrine: Announced March 2015; IPOI launched November 2019; MAHASAGAR launched March 2025
- IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium): Founded by India in 2008, 35 member navies
- India's maritime neighbourhood: Indian Ocean covers ~20% of global ocean area; ~80% of global oil trade transits through the Indian Ocean
- India's coastline: ~7,516 km; Exclusive Economic Zone: ~2.01 million sq km