15 countries take part in naval exercise in Visakhapatnam to tackle drone threat

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 25

The sea phase of multi-nation naval exercise ‘Milan’ today commenced off the coast of Visakhapatnam with 35 warships and submarines besides 50 planes.

Fifteen countries have sent their warships or planes for the exercise. While the US, Russia, Iran, Japan and Australia have sent ships, France has sent its maritime plane. India will be using both its aircraft carriers — INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant — besides other assets.

Fifty-one nations took part in the harbour phase of ‘Milan’ conducted between February 19 and 24. However, sea-going assets of only 15 of these nations are taking part in this phase.

“The drill involves advanced air defence operations, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface operations,” Navy officials said.

A key task at sea will be to practice tackling drone threats amid attacks on ships around the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The exercise aims to address common challenges and create a secure and prosperous maritime environment. India’s growing strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific region has further elevated the significance of the exercise.

Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and attacks on merchant vessels by Yemen-based Houthi rebels have rocked the mercantile trade and one of the discussions during the harbor phase of the exercise was on anti-piracy. Among the invitees were Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen and Eritrea. All four countries share land on either side of the narrow straits of Bab-el-Mandeb that lead to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

The harbour phase was aimed at promoting cultural sharing amongst the participating nations and comprised an international maritime seminar, international city parade, a technology exhibition and sporting events.

‘Milan’ is a biennial multi-nation naval exercise which started in 1995 with the participation of four foreign countries — Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand — in consonance with India’s Look East Policy.

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