The 13th edition of the multinational naval exercise Milan 2026 concluded successfully in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, with the closing ceremony held aboard the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Naval chiefs and representatives from 75 friendly countries attended the ceremony, where the outcomes of the exercise were reviewed.
Held under the theme ‘Camaraderie, Cohesion and Collaboration’, the exercise brought together delegations and naval leaders from approximately 75 friendly nations. The exercise served as a platform to strengthen maritime strategy, security cooperation and international naval coordination.
The multinational exercise, conducted from 19 to 25 February, was organised in two phases: the Harbour Phase and the Sea Phase. During the first two days, the Harbour Phase featured expert discussions, interactions among young officers and cultural exchanges, aimed at strengthening personal trust and professional understanding among participating navies.
The stated objective of the exercise was to promote cooperation in maritime security, disaster management, curbing illegal activities and collective strategy. The multinational platform reflected India’s global maritime commitment.
The Sea Phase, which commenced on 21 February, marked the operational peak of the exercise. A total of 40 warships and 29 aircraft participated, including 18 foreign ships. According to Eastern Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, intensive drills were conducted across air, surface and sub-surface domains. Nearly 90 flying hours were undertaken, covering complex operations such as anti-submarine warfare, air defence, surface attacks and maritime surveillance. During the exercise, naval officers from participating countries also discussed comprehensive strategies for joint operations, disaster relief and ensuring maritime security.
The Milan exercise began in 1995 with participation from four countries — the United States, Russia, France and Japan. Since then, it has expanded to include navies from 75 countries. Naval chiefs from 25 littoral nations of the Indian Ocean Region also take part in the exercise. The stated objective of the exercise extends beyond operational drills to developing shared strategies to address piracy, maritime disasters, maritime terrorism and illegal activities.
The closing ceremony was held aboard INS Vikrant. The Chief of the Naval Staff commended the participation of all countries and the successful conduct of the exercise. He stated that the exercise plays a significant role in promoting maritime cooperation, camaraderie and cohesion. The multinational platform provided naval officers an opportunity to share technical, strategic and cultural experiences.
