America, Russia And Other Warships Head To India: What’s Coming Next? | World News

New Delhi: India is preparing for a major naval show in 2026. From the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, the country is strengthening its maritime security and preparing for a large-scale exercise called MILAN-26. This exercise will be held off the coast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, where some of the world’s most powerful navies will showcase their capabilities.

MILAN-26 forms an important part of India’s MAHASAGAR vision, which aims to position the country as a leader in the maritime field.

According to The Times of India, Commander of Eastern Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, along with his wife Priya Bhalla, met with President Droupadi Murmu in Delhi to brief him on India’s preparations for the International Fleet Review (MILAN-26) and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.

The exercises are planned to be held off Visakhapatnam between 15-25 February 2026.

The Hindu reported that around 70 ships from India and allied countries will participate in the International Fleet Review. In total, warships from 55 countries are expected to participate. It shows India’s active strategy under the Act East Policy.

Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsyayan had earlier informed the media in October that both Russia and the US would participate in MILAN-26 and send their warships to India. He also confirmed that all QUAD members (India, Japan, Australia and the USA) will participate in the exercise together.

The International Fleet Review will officially begin on February 18 in Visakhapatnam. India has previously hosted this review in 2001 and 2016, making it the country’s third time to host this prestigious maritime event in 2026.

MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Integral Progress for Security and Growth Among Regions. This is an extension of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SGRG). The program aims to protect the Indian Ocean, build trust between countries and collectively protect maritime interests in the region.

Why are MILAN Exercises Important?

The word MILAN means “to meet” or “to come together” in Hindi. For the Indian Navy, the exercise represents coordination with multiple navies in the Indian Ocean. The first MILAN exercise took place in 1995 with the participation of Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

By 2014, 42 countries participated in MILAN-2022, with the participation of 17 navies, underlining India’s growing role as a center for maritime cooperation.