India’s Maritime Multilateralism in Visakhapatnam: IFR-MILAN-IONS 2026 Naval Trifecta

The Indian port city of Visakhapatnam served as the epicentre of global naval diplomacy for 10 days, from 15 to 25 February 2026. The Indian Navy held three major maritime events simultaneously in the city: the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026^[i], Exercise MILAN 2026 and the 9th Conclave of Chiefs of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) 2026. These events were attended by 74 countries, with 33 represented by their naval chiefs and heads of maritime security agencies^[ii], creating a rare spectacle of international naval cooperation and professional camaraderie and demonstrating India’s growing maritime capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).