Representatives from the navies of 72 countries will participate in the International Fleet Review (IFR) and the "Milan 2026" exercises to be held off the eastern coast of India.
The Indian Navy released information regarding the upcoming maneuvers, Operative Information Center-OMM reports. It was noted that the current IFR and MILAN exercises, which will include 72 countries such as the United States and Russia, will be larger in scale and carry deeper significance than previous iterations. More than 60 warships and maritime aviation assets from various nations are expected to take part in these mega joint maritime events.
Russia will be represented in the maneuvers by the frigate "Marshal Shaposhnikov" of the Russian Pacific Fleet. For the first time, warships from Germany, the Philippines, and the UAE will also join the exercise. Specifically, the Philippine Navy's frigate "BRP Miguel Malvar" and the UAE Navy's vessel "Al Emarat" will participate in the maneuvers. The "Milan 2026" exercise brings together naval forces from across the globe in the city of Visakhapatnam. The drills aim to strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation among participating countries, facilitate the exchange of experience, and expand collaboration in the field of maritime security.
The MILAN exercise, which began in 1995 with the participation of only four neighboring countries, has evolved into a major international biennial event. It serves as a critical platform for naval diplomacy and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region. These exercises are increasingly significant as global maritime trade routes face evolving security challenges, requiring coordinated international responses to ensure the freedom of navigation and regional stability.
