14 navies to take part in exercise off A & N

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.