Indian Navy’s Milan 2022 to bring together 40 countries

rom 25 to 28 February 2022 and Sea Phase from March 01 to 04, 2022. “The theme of the exercise ‘Camaraderie – Cohesion – Collaboration’ aims to project India as a responsible maritime power to the world at large. The aim of the exercise is to hone operational skills, imbibe best practices and procedures, and enable doctrinal learning in the maritime domain, through professional interaction between friendly navies,” the Indian Navy said in a statement. Starting with the participation of only four countries, viz Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand, in the 1995 edition, the exercise has since transitioned leaps and bounds in terms of number of participants and complexity of exercises. The number of participating countries increased from six regional countries to 18 countries in 2014 which included IOR littorals. Originally conceived in consonance with India’s Look East Policy, Milan expanded in ensuing years with the government’s Act East policy and Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative, to include participation from island nations in the Western Indian Ocean Region as also IOR littorals. “With Indian Navy’s engagement with Friendly Foreign Countries expanding over the decades, a need was felt to further consolidate the naval cooperation by enhancing the scale and complexity of the Milan exercise and engaging both regional and extra regional navies of the world,” the statement added. “This edition of would be larger in scope and complexity with focus on exercises at sea including exercises in surface, sub-surface and air domains and weapon firing. Operational Conferences and Seminars are also being conducted, providing participating navies/ delegations an opportunity to express their views on maritime security. The high-profile foreign delegates will comprise highest level naval leadership, agency heads, Ambassadors and equivalent,” the Indian Navy said. Milan 2022 will host an International Maritime Seminar with the theme ‘Harnessing Collective Maritime Competence through Collaboration’ on 27-28 February. Other activities include Professional/ Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, DSRV demonstration, Milan of Young Officers, Sports Fixtures, and Cultural Visits to Agra and Bodh Gaya for foreign visitors, the Indian Navy said. Navy to Navy interactions enhance mutual understanding, cooperation and inter-operability between maritime forces. Milan 2022 will provide an invaluable opportunity to foster bonds of maritime brotherhood across the oceans, the Indian Navy said.