Chief of Navy Visits India to attend Exercise MILAN 2026, International Fleet Review & 9th Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Conclave of Chiefs

RADM Wat (top row, 13th from the right) together with his counterparts and senior officials at the opening ceremony of Ex MILAN.

Our Chief of Navy Rear Admiral (RADM) Sean Wat was in Visakhapatnam, India from 17 to 20 February 2026 to attend the 13th edition of Ex MILAN, a multilateral naval exercise organised by the Indian Navy (IN), as well as the International Fleet Review (IFR) which was graced by The Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu.

RADM Wat also spoke at the International Maritime Seminar (IMS), and participated in the 9th Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Conclave of Chiefs (IONS CoC).

The IN-organised IFR involved 85 ships from 74 participating nations, and was graced by The Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu (first row, 8th from the right). RADM Wat (top row, 7th from the left) was amongst senior representatives from 74 countries who attended the IFR. (Photo courtesy of Indian Navy)

RADM Wat met with IN’s Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet RADM Vivek Dahiya when he sailed on board INS Sumedha, an indigenously built Offshore Patrol Vessel, which served as the Presidential Yacht for this IFR.

RADM Wat spoke on the topic of “Waves of Unity: Collaborative Maritime Security (MARSEC) for a Safer Indo-Pacific” during the IMS.

In his speech, he highlighted the growing importance of multilateral cooperation, especially with evolving maritime security challenges.

He also highlighted the importance of strengthening regional security architectures (RSA) to ensure relevance to current-day context, and how MARSEC information sharing, such as those facilitated by Singapore’s Information Fusion Centre, continue to be critical in cueing timely operational responses.

On the topic of strengthening regional security architecture (RSA), RADM Wat shared that the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM+) has emerged as a cornerstone of regional maritime security cooperation, successfully translating strategic dialogue into practical cooperation through exercises and expert working groups. Recent developments, including the adoption of a Critical Underwater Infrastructure (CUI) Security framework, demonstrate how these multilateral platforms continue to adapt and respond effectively to evolving challenges.

RADM Wat also elaborated on the importance of leveraging information-sharing arrangements to enhance operational responses. Real-time information sharing through centres like Singapore's Information Fusion Centre has become essential for coordinated maritime security responses across the region. The successful operation in 2023 to safely escort a drone-attacked vessel highlighted how swift information exchanges between partner nations can allow for a safer maritime environment and quicker reactions between partnering navies in critical situations.

Held in conjunction with the IFR, the 9th IONS CoC was conducted on 20 February 2026. RADM Wat, together with other Chiefs of Navy and senior representatives from 32 countries, discussed ways to enhance cooperation for maritime issues in the Indian Ocean region.

RADM Wat calling on the IN’s Chief of Naval Staff Admiral (ADM) Dinesh K. Tripathi. Both Chiefs reaffirmed the strong Navy-to-Navy relationship, and discussed avenues to deepen cooperation through our longstanding Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX).

RADM Wat also met with the Indian Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship between the IN and RSN.

RADM Wat also met with his counterparts and senior officials from Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Royal Thai Navy (RTN), French Navy (FN), United States Navy (USN) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Top row, left to right: Meeting with RMN Deputy Chief of Navy, VADM Datuk Badarudin bin Taha, RTN Commander-in-Chief, ADM Pairote Fuangchan, and FN Chief of Naval Staff, ADM Nicolas Vaujour. Bottom row, left to right: Meeting with Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet, ADM Stephen Koehler, and JMSDF Vice Chief of Staff, VADM Kunimi Yasuhiro.

📸: Naval Intelligence Department