India's premier naval drill, named Milan, would feature warships from Russia and the US, marking the first occasion since the advent of Moscow's Special Military Operation in Ukraine when defense assets of the two geopolitical heavyweights would come together to cooperate instead of opposing each other at a common platform.
According to the Indian Navy, the exercise set to be conducted on India's eastern seaboard in Visakhapatnam aims to enhance interoperability between the 51 participant navies besides making them combat-ready for tackling maritime threats.
India's blue water force underlined that close cooperation between maritime forces of different sovereign states is crucial to overcoming large-scale security challenges, such as the recent Houthi attacks on civilian naval vessels in the Red Sea region as well as hijacking attempts by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea.
"It's simply not possible for any one navy to do it alone...it has to be a collaborative effort. The Milan exercise, with participation from as many as 51 countries, will help forge deeper partnerships in tackling threats together," Indian Navy's Deputy Chief Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti said in a statement.
"The biennial Milan has transformed both in terms of size and complexity since it began in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 1995 with four foreign navies. In 2022, 39 countries took part. This year, there will be 51," Sobti added.
The exercise which will take place from February 19 to 27, will have 50 naval aircraft showcasing their air prowess on the seas.