Indian Navy opens MILAN Village in Visakhapatnam ahead of MILAN 2026 exercise
Visakhapatnam, February 15. The Indian Navy on February 14 inaugurated the MILAN Village at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, marking a key cultural highlight of its flagship multilateral exercise, MILAN 2026.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, who formally declared the village open for participating navies and toured the facilities designed to foster global maritime engagement, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence on February 16.
Conceived as a vibrant experience zone, the MILAN Village brings together delegates and naval personnel from over 70 countries in an atmosphere of camaraderie and friendship. The space has been curated to promote social and cultural exchanges beyond formal military interactions, strengthening bonds among partner navies.
A central attraction of the village is its focus on India’s cultural heritage. Delegates will experience live vocal performances, traditional folk dances and cultural ensembles showcasing the country’s diverse artistic traditions. Stalls offering naval memorabilia, handicrafts and handloom products from across India highlight the nation’s rich craftsmanship. Visitors will also be served a wide array of Indian cuisines representing different regional flavours.
In his address, Vice Admiral Bhalla said the MILAN Village reflects the spirit of camaraderie and cultural connection that complements professional naval cooperation. He noted that as Visakhapatnam hosts the International Fleet Review (IFR), MILAN and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) events in close succession, the convergence marks a significant milestone in India’s maritime outreach and cooperative engagement with partner nations.
Exercise MILAN 2026, scheduled from February 15 to 25 in Visakhapatnam, forms a key component of this broader maritime convergence, alongside IFR 2026 and the IONS Conclave of Chiefs. Considered one of the largest multilateral naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific, MILAN 2026 will see participation from navies across the globe to enhance interoperability, maritime domain awareness and collective response capabilities.
The exercise will feature both Harbour and Sea Phases, focusing on complex maritime operations such as anti-submarine warfare, air defence, search and rescue, and cooperative security missions. The initiative underscores a shared commitment to ensuring free, open, inclusive and rules-based seas.
MILAN 2026 is also being viewed as a major operational expression of the Prime Minister’s MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, reaffirming India’s role as a preferred security partner and responsible stakeholder in the global maritime domain.
As the cultural centrepiece of the exercise, the MILAN Village embodies the theme ‘Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration’, symbolising the shared commitment of participating navies to deepen friendships and strengthen collective maritime partnerships.
