Rajnath Singh: Navies Must Unite Against Piracy and Terrorism at Record MILAN 2026

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asserted that cooperation among navies has become an absolute necessity in the face of evolving maritime threats, including piracy, maritime terrorism, illegal fishing, trafficking, cyber vulnerabilities and supply chain disruptions. Speaking at the inauguration of the multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2026, he emphasized that no single nation, however powerful, can tackle these complex challenges alone.

Highlighting the growing uncertainties in global waters, Singh noted that climate change is intensifying natural disasters, leading to more frequent and demanding humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. He underlined that these shared challenges require collective responsibility, mutual respect, and coordinated maritime engagement among like-minded nations to safeguard peace and stability.

The Defence Minister stated that MILAN 2026, with participation from 74 nations, marks the largest and most inclusive edition of the exercise since its inception. He described the strong international presence as a testament to India’s credibility as a trusted maritime partner and reaffirmed India’s commitment to promoting an equitable maritime order based on international law and freedom of navigation.

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Singh added that the harbour and sea phases of the exercise are designed to enhance interoperability, strengthen maritime domain awareness, and conduct advanced drills in anti-submarine warfare, air defence, and search-and-rescue operations. The sea phase, scheduled from February 21 to 25, will translate diplomatic engagement into operational coordination on the waters.

Initiated by the Indian Navy in 1995 with just four participating countries — Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand — MILAN has evolved into a major biennial naval engagement. Reaffirming India’s role as a “Vishwa-Mitra” or trusted global friend, Rajnath Singh said holistic maritime security and mutual prosperity can only be achieved through sustained cooperation, shared commitment, and enduring partnerships.

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