US, Russia to be part of mega Indian Navy drill in February, Pg11.

Key Highlights:

• The Indian Navy will conduct the Milan maritime exercise in February with over 55 countries participating, including the US and Russia.
• The Navy will also host the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs in Visakhapatnam from February 15-25.
• During the IONS Conclave, the Indian Navy will assume the Chairmanship for the second time for the period 2025-27.
• The Navy is monitoring all vessels, including Chinese vessels, entering the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Detailed Insights:

• Milan is a biennial maritime exercise organized by the Indian Navy to enhance maritime cooperation and interoperability among participating nations.
• The International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 is a ceremonial event where the Indian Navy showcases its capabilities and fosters goodwill with foreign navies.
• The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a forum that aims to increase maritime security cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
• Despite ongoing operations like Operation Sindoor, the Indian Navy continues its interactions, exercises, and planned activities with foreign countries, demonstrating its readiness and capabilities.
• There is a continuous presence of extra-regional powers in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), with a minimum of 40 to 50 ships operating in the region at any given time.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Interoperability: The ability of different military forces to operate together seamlessly.
• Maritime Security: The protection of maritime resources, trade routes, and coastal areas from threats.
• Littoral States: Countries that border a sea or ocean.