Navy to hold International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam in Feb., Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The Indian Navy will host the International Fleet Review (IFR) in Visakhapatnam in February 2026.
• The IFR aims to reinforce being “United through Oceans” and strengthening “Bridges of Friendship”.
• India last conducted an IFR in 2001 to mark 50 years of the Republic.
• The 2026 edition coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Republic.
• India is strengthening regional maritime capacities by gifting platforms and commissioning centers to countries like Vietnam, Mozambique, and Sri Lanka.
• The Navy participates in nearly 20 bilateral exercises and several multilateral engagements.

Detailed Insights:

• The maritime domain has become central to India’s foreign policy and strategic outreach due to growing threats like piracy, climate change, and illegal fishing.
• Multilateralism has become indispensable for collective security and sustainable growth in addressing maritime challenges that transcend borders.
• India has positioned the Navy as a key architect of multilateral engagement, strengthening regional maritime capacities through various initiatives.
• India's reputation as a dependable partner is shaped by its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) responses across the Indo-Pacific.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reiterated India’s commitment to a rules-based international order and called for reforming outdated multilateral structures.
• Naval diplomacy remains a vital component of India’s strategic toolkit, exemplified by the India-China dynamic in the Indian Ocean Region.
• The Navy participates in bilateral exercises like SIMBEX, Varuna, and CORPAT, and multilateral engagements such as QUAD, MILAN, Malabar and Konkan.
• The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), launched in 2008, has evolved into a platform for dialogue, coordination, and cooperative security planning.

Key Concepts Involved:

• International Fleet Review (IFR): A multinational naval exercise where a host country invites foreign navies to display their ships and capabilities.
• Multilateralism: The principle of involving multiple nations in addressing shared issues and challenges.
• Naval Diplomacy: The use of a nation's navy to pursue diplomatic goals, such as fostering relationships and projecting power.
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): Assistance provided to alleviate human suffering and provide aid during natural disasters or humanitarian crises.