The warships assembled near Vishakhapatnam, representing quiet symbolism and a strategic purpose. Greetings were exchanged between navies on India’s new aircraft carrier, and an atmosphere of cooperation was generated by experiences gained through common training, not solely from formal exercises. The maritime experiences of sailors from various navies across the world had a meaningful impact on many of the smaller navies that had participated in this event. Officers spoke highly of how much they appreciated India’s commitment to an inclusive approach towards maritime cooperation with regional states.
Diplomacy and operational practicality were therefore blended during each day of the exercise as the coordination effort took precedence over ceremonial activities on MILAN 2026. A product of this was that MILAN 2026 projected trust across the water between those who participated in the event, and demonstrated India’s increasing power as a regional economic and diplomatic convenor.
Why MILAN 2026 mattered strategically
The Indian Navy has completed the MILAN 2026 exercise on board the INS Vikrant off Visakhapatnam, which provided a platform for a larger, collaborative, and multinational group of navies from around the world to work together on improving interoperability and sea-based operations, as well as their skills in responding to human-made and natural disasters such as disasters, piracy, and maritime terrorism.
Rear Admiral Alok Ananda closed the exercise, which consisted of 42 ships and submarines operated along with 29 aircraft, and the participation of 18 foreign warships, with support provided by the Indian Navy. Outcomes of this exercise included improvements in response capabilities and the ability to conduct seamless operations together as all of the navies involved improved their overall coordination and interoperability, and as such, collectively contributed to improved maritime security throughout the regional maritime domain.
What participants and platforms revealed
The officials who attended this event commended the planning process and long-term engagement of each of the participants. Seychelles, the Maldives, and Indonesia gave examples of training partnerships on a broad scope with India. Furthermore, they commented about their cultural connection and long-standing defence partnerships. The impact of the location was also significant to the visiting delegates; INS Vikrant placed great importance on the Indian government’s effort to Indigenise its military and showed how successful India can become in terms of its air and sea capabilities with their diverse aircraft and personnel. The size of the ship also impressed all of the delegates. Together, personnel and systems provide a strong basis for establishing a continuous partnership between each of the countries. MILAN 2026 provided an opportunity to develop partnerships by providing friendship while demonstrating capabilities to lead in the Indian Ocean Region.
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