12th Edition of MILAN Naval Exercise will held in Visakhapatnam

The MILAN naval exercise's 12th edition will be held in Visakhapatnam from February 19-27, with over 50 countries participating.

• The "Forging Naval Alliances for a Secure Maritime Future" is the theme of the exercise which aims to facilitate collaboration and idea-sharing among participating navies to enhance security on the high seas. Its primary objective is to ensure the safety of maritime trade for the benefit of all stakeholders.

About MILAN

• MILAN is a biennial multinational naval exercise started in 1995 under India's 'Look East policy'. The exercise involves the participation of foreign countries, with the first edition seeing four countries take part (Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand). 
• The exercise is now in its 11th edition and thriving under the Andaman and Nicobar Command's supervision. 
• However, the upcoming exercises will now be held in Visakhapatnam, which was selected as the preferred location. 
• The previous edition of the exercise was held in Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command and had the theme 'Camaraderie-Cohesion-Collaboration'.

Look East Policy

• In 1992, Prime Minister Narasimha Rao introduced India's "Look East Policy" to improve India's relations with Southeast Asia. 
• This policy was initially focused on South East Asia, with India becoming a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asia Nations. Later, the policy was expanded to include East Asia and Oceania.
• To achieve the goals of the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity, India and ASEAN have created a Plan of Action for the next five years. 
• This partnership was established in 2004 and aligns with the Vision Statement of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit 2012.
• Our goal is to ensure that the Northeast region of India plays a vital role in this partnership, as geography has destined it to do so. As India strengthens its relationship with Southeast Asian neighbours, the Northeast region should benefit significantly.

Phases of MILAN 24

MILAN 24 exercise would comprise the 'Harbour phase' and the 'Sea phase'. 

• Harbour phase: Milan 24 is an upcoming event featuring a Harbour phase, an International Maritime Seminar, a City Parade at RK Beach, a Swavlamban Exhibition, a Subject Matter Expert Exchange and a Milan of Young Officers.
• Sea phase: Ships, aircraft, and submarines from friendly foreign countries and the Indian Navy will participate in sea exercises that include large-scale manoeuvres, advanced air defence operations, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare.

India's dedication to maritime cooperation and security in the Indian Ocean region is exemplified by the MILAN. The MILAN provides a platform for nations to establish partnerships, exchange ideas and enhance maritime security to bolster their maritime prowess.