Visakhapatnam, India, is set to host a series of significant maritime events in February 2026, including the Multilateral Naval Exercise Milan-26, the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026, and the Ninth Conclave of Chiefs of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). These events, collectively referred to as the “Vizag trifecta,” are anticipated to underscore India’s evolving role in the Indo-Pacific maritime security architecture and its expanded convening capabilities.

Scale and Participation

Milan-26, scheduled from 18 to 25 February, is projected to be the largest iteration of the exercise in its history, with 70 countries having confirmed participation out of over 135 invited. At least 23 foreign warships, including vessels from the United States and Russia, are slated to participate. The exercise will feature both harbour and high seas phases, covering maritime domain awareness, air defence, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), search and rescue, and humanitarian operations, designed to test interoperability across various platforms and doctrines.

The International Fleet Review on 18 February will involve President Droupadi Murmu reviewing a fleet of over 70 ships, including India’s two aircraft carriers, with participation confirmed from over 60 nations. The IONS Ninth Conclave of Chiefs, scheduled for 20 February, will gather naval leadership from 25 member states and nine observers to facilitate strategic dialogue on maritime security, piracy, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and information sharing.

Evolution of Milan

The Milan exercise, meaning “confluence” in Hindi, originated in 1995 with four foreign navies: Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. This initial initiative by the then Fortress Andaman & Nicobar (FORTAN) aimed to foster mutual understanding and trust through professional interactions among regional maritime forces. Over 32 years, this biennial exercise has expanded considerably, reflecting India’s broadening maritime interests. By 2022, 42 foreign countries participated, involving 13 warships, 21 aircraft, a submarine, and observer delegations.

Strategic Context

The expanded scale and scope of these events align with India’s shifting strategic doctrines, moving from a regional focus under earlier “Look East” and “Act East” policies to a more inclusive global maritime design. This is reflected in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “SAGAR” (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, articulated in 2015, and the “MAHASAGAR” (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, outlined in 2025. These visions emphasise cooperative frameworks, capacity building, humanitarian collaboration, economic diplomacy, technological connectivity, and environmental sustainability.

During Milan-26, India’s naval modernisation and indigenisation efforts will be showcased through platforms such as the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier, Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, and Nilgiri-, Shivalik-, and Kolkata-class frigates. The confirmed participation of diverse navies, including those of the United States and Russia, highlights India’s capacity to facilitate cooperation within various geopolitical contexts. The presence of navies from the Indian Ocean Region, Southeast Asia, Western Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Europe further underscores India’s objective of fostering wide-ranging maritime partnerships and its role as a bridge between regional and extra-regional maritime actors.

Academic Confluence

Complementing the naval activities, the New Delhi-based MP-IDSA will host the 16th South Asia Conference on 24-25 February. The conference, themed “Sagar to Mahasagar: Strategic & Development Partnerships,” will convene academics, analysts, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss related maritime strategies and collaborations.