Mid-Planning Conference for Multilateral Naval Exercise (MILAN) – 24

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The Mid Planning Conference (MPC) of MILAN 24 (Multilateral Naval Exercise – 2024) was hosted by the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam.

Key Highlights:

• MILAN is Biennial multilateral naval exercise

• It was started by Indian Navy in 1995 

• To enhance professional interaction between friendly foreign navies and learn from each other’s strengths and best practices in the maritime domain.

• The exercise began with the participation of just four countries: Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

• Over the years, it has grown in terms of both the number of participants and the complexity of exercises. In 2022, 39 countries participated in the Milan exercise.

• The exercise originally aligned with India’s ‘Look East Policy’. It later expanded to include more countries as part of India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative. 

• This expansion involved nations from both the western Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the countries along the IOR coast.

• Exercise MILAN 2024 is likely to witness the largest ever participation with invites being extended to over 50 countries.

• The exercise aligns with India’s G20 Presidency and the theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” emphasizing global unity.