Defence & SecurityImportant2026-02-19

Indian Navy Hosts MILAN and IFR 2026

Q: Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Exercise MILAN and IFR 2026? 1. Exercise MILAN was originally instituted in 1995 at the Andaman and Nicobar Command. 2. The 2026 edition combined the multilateral exercise MILAN with the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam.

Both 1 and 2 — Exercise MILAN began in 1995 with four nations at the Andaman and Nicobar Command. The 13th edition in 2026 was hosted in Visakhapatnam concurrently with the IFR 2026, marking India's largest maritime assembly.

In News

What Happened

On February 19, 2026, the Indian Navy commenced the 13th edition of the multilateral naval exercise MILAN alongside the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 in Visakhapatnam. Themed 'United Through Oceans', the event witnessed participation from over 70 navies. It featured complex sea phase maneuvers, anti-submarine drills, and maritime interdiction operations.

Why It Matters

This unprecedented assembly marks the largest maritime event hosted by India since independence, showcasing its growing naval prowess and diplomatic reach. It reinforces India's commitment to the SAGAR initiative and acts as a strong deterrent by promoting freedom of navigation in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.

Background

History & Context

Exercise MILAN was instituted in 1995 at the Andaman and Nicobar Command with just four participating nations: Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Originally aligned with India's 'Look East' policy, it expanded significantly over the decades as part of the 'Act East' and broader Indo-Pacific strategies. Due to its massive scale, the exercise was shifted to the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam starting in 2022. The International Fleet Review was previously held in India in Mumbai (2001) and Visakhapatnam (2016) before this combined 2026 edition.

What Changed

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BEFORE: MILAN was traditionally hosted at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to engage a small group of regional navies. NOW: It is hosted at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam to accommodate the massive scale of over 70 global navies.
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BEFORE: MILAN exercises and International Fleet Reviews were historically conducted as separate military and diplomatic events. NOW: The 2026 edition successfully merged MILAN and IFR into a single, unprecedented maritime assembly.
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BEFORE: Early editions of MILAN focused heavily on basic confidence-building measures and search-and-rescue drills. NOW: The exercise scope has expanded to include complex anti-submarine warfare, advanced maritime interdiction, and deep-sea maneuvers.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This aligns with the Class 12 Political Science NCERT 'Contemporary World Politics' in the chapter 'Security in the Contemporary World'. It illustrates the practical application of cooperative security and confidence-building measures (CBMs) through multilateral military exercises to protect global commons like international waters.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Exercise MILAN and IFR 2026? 1. Exercise MILAN was originally instituted in 1995 at the Andaman and Nicobar Command. 2. The 2026 edition combined the multilateral exercise MILAN with the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam.

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