Royal Australian Navy Warship Reach Vishakhapatnam, to Take Part in 'MILAN2024' exercise

Defense News ,India :- In a significant development, HMAS Warramunga, an Anzac-class frigate from the Royal Australian Navy, made its arrival on Sunday for the multinational naval exercise, 'MILAN 2024,' as announced by the Eastern Naval Command.

The Eastern Naval Command highlighted that the presence of the Australian warship is indicative of the strong maritime collaboration between Australia and India. "The Sunrise Command of the #IndianNavy warmly welcomes HMAS Warramunga, an Anzac Class Frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The ship's participation in #MILAN2024 reflects the close #maritime partnership between the two nations and navies," posted the Eastern Naval Command on X.

Today, the Eastern Naval Command extended a warm welcome to Corvette 20 of the Vietnam People's Navy and USS Halsey (DDG-97) of the United States Navy. "Naval vessels from Vietnam and the United States have arrived in Visakhapatnam for the MILAN 2024 maritime exercise," noted the post on X.

This visit not only underscores the commitment to regional security but also strengthens defense partnerships. MILAN 2024 serves as a platform for navies to engage in joint exercises and enhance interoperability, as stated in the official statement.

Commenting on the significance of 'MILAN 24,' the post emphasizes, "As Visakhapatnam hosts these naval vessels, it reaffirms its role as a key maritime hub, fostering cooperation among nations committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The exercise is expected to deepen bonds of friendship and promote peace and stability across the oceans."

The 12th edition of the MILAN exercise is scheduled to take place from February 19 to 27 in Visakhapatnam, with the participation of over 50 countries. The theme for this year's exercise is "Forging Naval Alliances for a Secure Maritime Future."

"The 12th edition of the MILAN exercise to be held at #Visakhapatnam 19 - 27 Feb 24 aims to provide a platform for the participating navies to share ideas to enhance #security on the high seas & ensure safety of #maritime commerce for growth & prosperity of all," shared the Indian Navy on X.

The release further highlighted, "MILAN would be an excellent platform for the participating navies to share ideas to enhance security on the high seas and ensure the safety of maritime commerce for the growth and prosperity of all. In addition to building bridges of friendship and strengthening relationships, sea exercise would enhance interoperability, enable the exchange of best practices and boost confidence to undertake missions together in the future, to tackle common challenges."