MILAN 2026: Rajnath calls for mutual trust among navies to tackle complex challenges at sea

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday called upon the international community to effectively tackle the evolving complex challenges at sea, while acting in the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation.

Addressing the Navy Chiefs and heads of delegations from 74 countries during the inauguration of MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Rajnath Singh said, “The role of navies in international peacemaking has increased. There has also been a rise in contests for ownership of straits and channels, sometimes causing flare-up threats. Increasing international attention to underwater resources, particularly rare-earth minerals, are adding a new dimension to this tension.”

“In addition, there is a need to guard our waters from terrorist activities which are spreading across countries and regions,” the Defence Minister said.

Mr. Rajnath Singh asserted that traditional threats coexist with emerging challenges such as piracy, maritime terrorism, illegal fishing, trafficking, cyber vulnerabilities, and disruptions to critical supply chains.

Climate change is intensifying natural disasters, making humanitarian and disaster relief operations more frequent and demanding. “No single navy, irrespective of its capabilities, can address these challenges alone,” he said.

He felt legal framework provided by the U.N. Convention on the Law of Seas (UNCLOS) to address matters related to international waters can be strengthened further through a comprehensive global naval architecture.

The UNCLOS provides a comprehensive and time-tested mechanism for dispute redressal and peaceful co-existence among nations, and the comprehensive global naval architecture would facilitate information sharing, protect links of communications and curbs criminal activities, including terrorism on high seas, along with the usual role of protecting the national boundaries on a global scale.

Mr. Rajnath Singh said platforms such as MILAN bring together professional expertise, build mutual trust, enhance interoperability, and enable coordinated responses to common challenges.

“When our ships sail together, when our sailors train together, and when our commanders deliberate together, we build a shared understanding that transcends geography and politics and provides an opportune moment to deliberate on this idea of cooperation,” he said.

The Defence Minister said that shaped by the vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), the country’s approach to the seas has evolved into the vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR). “This evolution reflects India’s deepening commitment to engaging with partners in the region and beyond,” he said.

As a trusted Vishwa-Mitra (global friend), India will continue to play a constructive and dependable role in the region, underlining that holistic maritime security and mutual prosperity are indivisible and can only be achieved through cooperation, trust, and shared commitment among like-minded nations, he asserted.

‘Maritme Mahakumbh’

In his opening remarks, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi likened MILAN to a ‘Maritime Mahakumbh’. Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi asserted that during MILAN 2026, the navies will engage in complex maritime manoeuvres, drills and exercise, professional exchanges and insightful discussions. While enhancing mutual understanding, trust and interoperability, these interactions will also help in learning from each other’s experience and expertise, he said.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Naval Chiefs from participating friendly countries, and personnel of participating countries attended the event.