According to Rajnath Singh, the minister of defense, India wants to create a fair maritime order that is founded on international law and freedom of navigation. He emphasized that in order to address marine concerns, the international community must work together. He stated that both established and new dangers coexist when launching the multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2026 here. Cyber vulnerabilities, trafficking, illicit fishing, marine terrorism, piracy, and interruptions to vital supply lines. Natural disasters are becoming increasingly severe due to climate change, which increases the frequency and difficulty of humanitarian and disaster relief efforts. No navy, no matter how strong, can handle these difficulties on its own. Because of this, it is now necessary for the Navies to cooperate, he stated.
According to the defense minister, unique responsibilities require the international community to work together to handle the difficulties amicably and with respect for one another. He emphasized that a strong legal foundation for handling issues pertaining to international seas is provided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of Seas (UNCLOS). A thorough and tried-and-true process for resolving disputes and promoting peaceful international coexistence is offered by UNCLOS.
“It is my belief that this legal framework can be further strengthened through a comprehensive global naval architecture, one that facilitates information sharing, protects links of communications and curbs criminal activities, including terrorism on high seas, along with the usual role of protecting the national boundaries on a global scale.” Platforms like as MILAN, he noted, facilitate coordinated responses to shared difficulties, foster mutual trust, bring together professional skills, and improve interoperability.
