Indian Navy Inaugurates ‘MILAN Village’ in Visakhapatnam
The Indian Navy on Saturday inaugurated the ‘MILAN Village’ at the Eastern Naval Command, marking the ceremonial opening of one of the most distinctive cultural features of Exercise MILAN 2026.
The inauguration was presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, who formally opened the village and toured the facilities set up to host delegates and naval personnel from more than 70 participating countries.
Conceptualised as an immersive engagement zone, the MILAN Village has been designed to foster camaraderie beyond operational interactions. It serves as a social and cultural hub where foreign delegates and Indian naval personnel can connect in an informal setting, reinforcing professional ties with personal exchanges.
At the heart of the village is a celebration of India’s cultural diversity. The venue will host live vocal performances, traditional folk dances and curated cultural ensembles, offering visiting navies a glimpse into the country’s artistic heritage.
The village also features stalls showcasing naval memorabilia alongside handicrafts and handloom products from across India, highlighting regional craftsmanship. Visitors will experience a wide range of Indian cuisines, presenting diverse regional flavours as part of the hospitality extended to participating navies.
In his remarks, Vice Admiral Bhalla said the MILAN Village reflects the spirit of camaraderie and cultural connection that complements professional naval engagement. He noted that as Visakhapatnam hosts the International Fleet Review (IFR), MILAN and the IONS Conclave of Chiefs in close succession, the convergence represents a significant milestone in India’s maritime outreach and cooperative engagement with partner navies.
Exercise MILAN 2026, scheduled from February 15 to 25 in Visakhapatnam, is among the largest multilateral naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific. The exercise will unfold in Harbour and Sea Phases, focusing on complex maritime operations including anti-submarine warfare, air defence drills, search and rescue, and cooperative security missions.
The event forms a key pillar of India’s broader maritime engagement this month, alongside the International Fleet Review 2026 and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs. Together, these engagements underscore India’s effort to strengthen interoperability, maritime domain awareness and collective response capabilities among partner navies.
As a cultural centrepiece of MILAN 2026, the MILAN Village embodies the theme “Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration,” symbolising the shared commitment of participating nations to deepen trust, build bridges of friendship and advance collaborative maritime partnerships.
