Published Feb 02, 2026 | 7:20 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 02, 2026 | 7:20 PM
International Fleet Review, Milan-2026 to be held in Visakhapatnam (Indiannavymedia/ X)
Synopsis: The International Fleet Review and Milan-2026 will be held along the Visakhapatnam coastline over the two days. President of India Droupadi Murmu will review the fleet during the IFR, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend Milan-2026. Andhra Pradesh Governor Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will also be present at the Fleet Review.
Visakhapatnam is set to host two major global naval events—the International Fleet Review (IFR) on 18 February and Milan-2026 on 19 February—bringing together naval forces, warships, aircraft and delegates from across the world, senior officials.
In preparation for the events, Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Sushil Menon along with other senior naval officers, met Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary K Vijayanand at the state Secretariat in Amaravati to review logistical, security and coordination arrangements. The naval officials briefed the Chief Secretary on the scale and significance of the events, which are expected to place Visakhapatnam firmly on the global maritime map, an official press release said on Monday, 2 February.
Vice Admiral Menon said ships from 19 countries, including Sri Lanka and Iran, will participate in the International Fleet Review, with around 4,000 foreign delegates expected to attend. He said three ships along with nearly 150 delegates from the United States, Germany and France would also be part of the events. From the Indian side, as many as 90 ships, 45 aircraft and around 600 delegates will participate, underlining the magnitude of the naval showcase.
The International Fleet Review and Milan-2026 will be held along the Visakhapatnam coastline over the two days. President of India Droupadi Murmu will review the fleet during the IFR, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend Milan-2026. Andhra Pradesh Governor Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will also be present at the Fleet Review. The Chief Minister and other dignitaries are expected to attend the International City Parade being organised as part of the celebrations.
Vijayanand assured the Eastern Naval Command of full support from the state government to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of both events. He directed officials of the concerned departments to make comprehensive arrangements covering logistics, hospitality, traffic management and civic services.
Given the presence of VVIPs such as the President of India, Defence Minister, Governor and Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary instructed officials to put in place robust security measures and follow all prescribed protocols. He stressed the need for close coordination between the Navy, state police, civil administration and other agencies to ensure seamless execution of the programme.
⏳ 20 Days to Go! 🌊⚓
The seas are set. The world is sailing in.
In 20 days, global navies unite at International Fleet Review 2026—a powerful showcase of trust, cooperation and maritime solidarity.📍 Visakhapatnam
🗓️ 18 February 2026One Ocean. One Vision.
United Through… pic.twitter.com/Xvuddsr7V9— IN (@IndiannavyMedia) January 30, 2026
Explaining the significance of the events, officials said that a Fleet Review is a ceremonial inspection of naval forces by the Head of State. While the President’s Fleet Review is conducted once during the President’s tenure to assess the operational preparedness of the Indian Navy, an International Fleet Review involves participation by navies of friendly foreign countries. During the IFR, the President reviews the capabilities of key warships and submarines from India and participating nations.
Milan, on the other hand, is a multilateral naval exercise aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation, interoperability and mutual trust among participating countries. It features operational demonstrations by naval forces as well as cultural programmes showcasing the traditions of the participating nations, reinforcing people-to-people and military-to-military ties.
The meeting at the Secretariat was attended by Principal Secretary (General Administration) J. Shyamala Rao and Additional Director (Protocol) Mohan Rao. Special Chief Secretary MT Krishna Babu, Inspector General (Operations) C.H. Srikanth and other senior officials participated virtually.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
