'Milan 2026': India will host US and Russia among 55 nations in massive maritime exercise in February

In a significant development, India will host the navies of both US and Russia at maritime exercise named 'Milan 2026' at Vishakapatnam in February next year.

Vice Chief of the Navy Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan announced the week-long drills to be conducted from February 19 to 26.

"Both US and Russia have confirmed there presence and will send ships for the exercise," Vice Admiral Vatsayan said answering questions from the media on Friday.

On being asked if Japan and Australia, both partners in the Quad with India and US, would be part of it, Vice Admiral Vatsayan stated that both countries have also confirmed.

There would be 55 countries at the event.

The exercise will be preceded by an international fleet review at the same venue on February 18. India is hosting its third international fleet review, the earlier ones being in 2001 and 2016.

On Exercise Milan-2026, Vice Admiral Vatsayan said, "This will be one of the largest Maritime exercises. And we expect a very large number of navies to participate in this event.”

The naval exercise will have a harbour phase on February 19 and 20 followed by a highly complex operational, and Sea Phase from February 21 to 25 in the Bay of Bengal.

The Sea Phase will have anti-submarine drills, air operations and sea operations. It will be complex and dynamic, Navy officials explained.

Separately, being asked about Chinese naval ships Indian Ocean, the Navy's Vice Chief said all Chinese vessels are being tracked.