The Indian Navy will be conducting its multilateral Exercise MILAN 2022 from the 25th February 2022 in Visakhapatnam, aptly titled the “City of Destiny”. This event, which was originally slated for 2020, has been postponed to 2022 due to Covid-19 related restrictions. The upcoming edition of MILAN is set to be a landmark event in terms of scale and focus areas.
Enlarged Participation at MILAN 22
Exercise MILAN 2022 is expected to see the largest participation so far. Over 40 countries are set to send their warships and high-level delegations. In this edition, the scope and complexity of the exercise will be broader than in previous iterations. It will concentrate on various domains including surface, subsurface, and air exercises with the inclusion of weapon firings.
The Central Theme: Camaraderie, Cohesion, Collaboration
The theme for MILAN 2022 is ‘Camaraderie – Cohesion – Collaboration’. The essence of this theme is the importance of mutual understanding, unity and working together towards common goals. It emphasizes the spirit of cooperation and teamwork, crucial attributes in any naval operation.
History and Growth of MILAN Exercises
MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise initiated by the Indian Navy in 1995 at the Andaman and Nicobar Command. The first edition of MILAN saw the participation of only four countries: Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. However, over the years, the exercise has seen significant growth and changes both in terms of the number of participants and the complexity of the exercises.
Initially, MILAN was conceptualized in line with India’s ‘Look East Policy’. However, as years passed and India’s foreign policies evolved, the scope of MILAN expanded. With India’s ‘Act East policy’ and the ‘Security And Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR) initiative, the participation has been extended to include island nations in the Western Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as well as IOR littorals.
Conclusion: A Step Toward Enhanced International Cooperation
MILAN 2022 is set to be a landmark event, demonstrating the progress and growth of the exercise. From its initial inception to now involving over forty countries, it is a testament to the Indian Navy’s commitment to fostering international cooperation and regional security. The forthcoming edition with its focus on camaraderie, cohesion, and collaboration underlines the continuing importance of collective action and unity in the maritime domain.
Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)
