**Executive Summary**
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh interacted with Navy Chiefs and Naval delegations from nine ASEAN member states on February 19, 2026, during the MILAN 2026 Naval exercise in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The meeting reinforced India's 'Act East Policy' and the MAHASAGAR vision. Discussions highlighted the importance of ASEAN as a central pillar of India's Indo-Pacific strategy and focused on fostering trust and cooperation among Indo-Pacific partners.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **MILAN 2026 Naval Exercise:**
* Raksha Mantri held an interaction with Navy Chiefs and Naval delegations from nine ASEAN member states on February 19, 2026.
* The exercise has grown significantly since 1995 and now involves 74 nations.
* **Strategic Importance:**
* ASEAN is a central pillar of India's Indo-Pacific strategy.
* Shared security is considered the foundation of regional prosperity.
* India is committed to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
* **Defense Cooperation:**
* ASEAN partners were invited to benefit from India's defense technology ecosystem.
* India's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' efforts are maturing its defense capabilities.
* Joint activities, including the ASEAN-India Defence Think-Tank Interaction, will be expanded.
* Initiatives will involve younger generations of naval officers to ensure long-term maritime stability.
* **Maritime Security:**
* The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is vital for fostering trust and operational familiarity.
* Ongoing Sea Phase of MILAN 2026 focuses on complex maritime drills.
* Drills include anti-submarine warfare (ASW), air defence, and search-and-rescue operations.
**Impact Analysis**
**ASEAN Member States**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to enhance naval cooperation and benefit from India's defense technology, contributing to shared regional security.
* **Action Required:** Participate in joint activities and explore potential collaborations in defense technology and maritime security.
**Indian Navy**
* **Impact:** Strengthened partnerships with ASEAN navies, promoting regional stability and enhancing India's role in the Indo-Pacific.
* **Action Required:** Expand joint activities and interactions with ASEAN navies, focusing on maritime security and defense cooperation.
**Indo-Pacific Partners**
* **Impact:** Enhanced trust and operational familiarity, contributing to a stable and secure maritime environment.
* **Action Required:** Continue participation in forums like IONS and MILAN, fostering dialogue and cooperation.
Key Entities Referenced
ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a key focus of India's Indo-Pacific strategy and a partner in defence technology.
MILAN 2026: A naval exercise involving ASEAN member states and other nations, serving as a platform for interaction and cooperation.
Rajnath Singh: Raksha Mantri (Defense Minister) who interacted with visiting Navy Chiefs and Naval delegations and highlighted the importance of ASEAN and India's defense technology.
'Act East Policy': India's foreign policy initiative focusing on enhanced engagement with ASEAN countries.
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh: Location where the interaction with Navy Chiefs and Naval delegations took place.
Ministry of Defence
MILAN 2026: Raksha Mantri interacts with
visiting Navy Chiefs and Naval delegations from
nine ASEAN member states
ASEAN is a central pillar of India's Indo-Pacific strategy,
shared security is the foundation of regional prosperity: Shri
Rajnath Singh
RM invites ASEAN partners to benefit from India’s defence
technology ecosystem matured due to self-reliance efforts
Posted On: 19 FEB 2026 3:43PM by PIB Delhi
On the sidelines of the MILAN 2026 Naval exercise, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held an
interaction with visiting Navy Chiefs and Naval delegations from nine ASEAN member states in
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on February 19, 2026. The meeting underscored India’s commitment to
its 'Act East Policy' and the vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across
Regions (MAHASAGAR).
Raksha Mantri welcomed the significant participation of ASEAN navies in MILAN 2026, noting that the
exercise has grown from its modest 1995 beginnings with four foreign navies to its largest-ever edition in
February 2026, involving 74 nations. He emphasised the importance of the Indian Ocean Naval
Symposium (IONS) - Conclave of Chiefs and the International Fleet Review 2026 in fostering trust and
operational familiarity among Indo-Pacific partners. The discussions also covered the ongoing Sea Phase
of MILAN 2026, focusing on complex maritime drills including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), air
defence, and search-and-rescue operations.
Shri Rajnath Singh described ASEAN as a central pillar of India's Indo-Pacific strategy, stating that shared
security is the foundation of regional prosperity. He invited ASEAN partners to benefit from India’s
defence technology ecosystem which has matured due to the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat' efforts of the
Government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He highlighted the INS Vikrant and
Visakhapatnam-class destroyers as symbols of India's transformation into a 'Builder's Navy'.
Reiterating sentiments from India-ASEAN informal meeting in late 2025, the ASEAN delegates lauded
India’s role as a first responder in the region. Raksha Mantri proposed expanding joint activities,
specifically through the ASEAN-India Defence Think-Tank Interaction and initiatives involving younger
generations of naval officers to ensure long-term maritime stability.
The interaction concluded with a shared commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, anchored
by the spirit of ‘Camaraderie, Cooperation, and Collaboration’ - the official theme of MILAN 2026.*****
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