India, Nov. 6 -- Johnson Odakkal

As Indian warships engage partners across the Indo-Pacific, Europe and beyond, naval exercises are becoming an increasingly consequential instrument of India's foreign policy

The year 2026 began with perhaps the biggest maritime convergence in the Indian Ocean in recent years, with the Indian Navy hosting the International Fleet Review, MILAN 2026 and the IONS Conclave of Chiefs, among other associated events, at Visakhapatnam in February. Those events set the tone for the engagements that followed.

The diplomatic significance of the Indian Navy extends well beyond port calls, flag visits and ceremonial welcomes. Its greater contribution lies at sea, where warships operate alongside foreign navies, prac...