14 navies to take part in exercise off Andaman and Nicobar

[Soumya_india]

Reflecting India’s growing maritime importance, 14 sea-faring nations will be participating in the eighth edition of the Navy’s Milan series of exercise, to be held in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from February 1 to 6.

The once-in-two year naval exercise began in 1995 with four nations. Over the years it has grown in size and status.The last edition of the exercise in 2010 was attended by13 countries.Countries participating in Milan 2012 are: Thailand, Australia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Brunei, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Singapore, Seychelles, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.
Vietnam, which attended the last edition of the Milan, would not be coming this time, said a Navy official.

While countries like Seychelles, Maldives and Singapore are India’s key partners in the Indian Ocean, New Delhi is keen to expand its footprint in other littoral states.

In a strategically significant move, India may offer support to Thailand for constructing its deep-sea port at Dawei. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra had discussed the matter during the latter’s official visit to India last week.
Furthering the cooperation,Thailand is sending one of its warships for Milan 2012.

Eight countries are sending their warships to the exercise. Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius and Sri Lanka are sending official delegations to attend the exercise. India will be represented by the Andaman and Nicobar command.

The exercise is not only an indirect indication of India’s growing naval strength, but also an effort to build up an informal platform to counter growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region through which bulk of the world’s oil and cargo moves. It also aims to help navies from the region know each other’s functioning better.

14 navies to take part in exercise off Andaman and Nicobar

 

[sivadreams]

Navy to host 14-nation 'Milan' exercise from Feb 1
TNN | Jan 31, 2012, 03.30AM IST

NEW DELHI: The Navy is all set to launch another edition of its 'Milan' multi-nation exercise and conclave in the strategic Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with warships and delegations from 14 countries of the Asia-Pacific region taking part in it.

The focus during the Milan exercise, being held from February 1 to 6, will be on maritime terrorism, piracy and poaching as well as humanitarian and search and rescue operations and "capacity building", officials said.

The participants include Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius.

"Milan basically is a biennial conglomeration of Asia-Pacific maritime navies, hosted by the Indian Navy, to foster bonds of 'friendship across the seas', boost interoperability and share views on common maritime issues. From four navies in 1995, it has grown to include 14 navies now," said an officer.

An important priority in the Asia-Pacific region is the protection of sea lanes around Malacca Strait since around 60,000 ships sail through it every year, transporting around 30% of the world trade in goods.

For India, the stakes are clearly high, with the strategic A&N Islands dominating the approaches to Malacca Strait. "India's central location in Indian Ocean, astride these major commercial routes and energy lifelines, makes us a major stakeholder in the region's security and stability,'' said the officer.

 

[Solar Flare]

Indian Navy growing in power and experience!

 

[peep]

The most disciplined and persistent development towards being a world standard is happening in our Naval arm of our defense forces. IA and IAF have just become too much bureaucratic to take a lead towards modernization.

Our Navy might just save the day for us against any attack by our northern neighbors.

 

[Kinetic]

Great initiative by GoI and IN. These regional navies, specially those friendly to India should be brought under one coalition. This is the first step.

 

[Nirvana]

Great !! Good move by our Navy

 

[T90TankGuy]

the more they exercise the more familiarity the gather with regional navies . which is good in the long run.