India To Host 70 Nations And Over 60 Warships In Historic International Fleet Review And MILAN exercise

India is hosting one of its most ambitious maritime gatherings as warships from around 70 countries assemble in Visakhapatnam for the International Fleet Review and Exercise MILAN 2026.

The concurrent events, running from 15 to 25 February, mark an unprecedented convergence of naval power with over 60 warships—including 19 from foreign navies—and 50 aircraft taking part in the exercises.

Both the United States and Russia have confirmed their participation, with Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan stating they would be sending ships and aircraft.

The remarkable diplomatic achievement sees geopolitical rivals operating together in a multilateral framework, with Iran, Japan and Australia also participating.

Quad partners India, the US, Japan and Australia will conduct joint operations alongside other major maritime players in the Bay of Bengal.

President Droupadi Murmu will review the fleet on 18 February, marking only the third International Fleet Review hosted by India after earlier editions in 2001 and 2016.

India's indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant will serve as the centrepiece, showcasing the country's growing shipbuilding capabilities and self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Exercise MILAN 2026, which began in 1995 with just four nations, has evolved into the largest edition ever staged.

The 13th iteration features a harbour phase on 19-20 February for professional exchanges, followed by complex sea operations from 21-25 February.

These will include anti-submarine warfare drills, air defence exercises, maritime domain awareness training and search-and-rescue operations designed to enhance interoperability amongst diverse naval forces.

The events align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's MAHASAGAR vision—Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions—which extends India's SAGAR framework beyond the Indian Ocean.

Simultaneously, Visakhapatnam will host the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Conclave of Chiefs, bringing together naval leaders from 25 member nations to discuss maritime security, humanitarian assistance and information sharing across the Indian Ocean Region.

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