Central Idea

Scheduled for February 2024, Exercise MILAN is set to be India’s largest multilateral naval exercise, with over 50 countries expected to participate.

Exercise MILAN

Origin: Biennial exercise initiated by the Indian Navy in 1995 at the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
Initial Participation: Began with four countries – Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand in 1995.
Growth over Years: The exercise has significantly grown in the number of participants and the complexity of exercises.
Expansion with Policies: Expanded under India’s ‘Act East policy’ and the SAGAR initiative.
Broader Inclusion: Now includes island nations in the Western Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and IOR littoral states.

Showcasing Naval Strength: This exercise reflects the Indian Navy’s growing engagement and capability to assist as a first responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Enhanced Operational Reach: The Indian Navy’s increasing presence and operational reach through Mission Based Deployments and other engagements underscore India’s commitment to strong defense ties.
Importance of Naval Exercises: Conducting 17 multilateral and 20 bilateral exercises annually, these events are crucial for operational capability enhancement, interoperability, and strengthening diplomatic and maritime security ties.