The Indian Navy is scheduled to host the International Fleet Review (IFR) in February 2026 at Visakhapatnam. This event underscores India’s evolving role as a “Preferred Security Partner” in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
1. International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026: Key Highlights
- Venue: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (Eastern Naval Command).
- Theme: “United through Oceans” and “Bridges of Friendship”.
- Significance:
- The event coincides with the 75th Anniversary of the Republic of India.
- It serves as a platform to showcase India’s naval prowess and commitment to multilateralism.
- Historical Context :
- 1st IFR: Held in 2001 in Mumbai (marking the 50th Republic Day).
- 2nd IFR: Held in 2016 in Visakhapatnam.
- 2026: Will be the third International Fleet Review hosted by India.
2. Strategic Framework: SAGAR to MAHASAGAR
India’s maritime strategy has evolved from SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) to the broader vision of MAHASAGAR.
- MAHASAGAR: Stands for Mutual And Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions.
- Objective: To expand engagement beyond the IOR to include Africa, ASEAN, and Pacific Island nations, promoting collective security against threats like piracy and illegal fishing.
3. Key Pillars of Recent Maritime Diplomacy
The article highlights specific instances of India’s capacity-building efforts:
- Vietnam: Gifting of the missile corvette INS Kirpan (Khukri-class) to the Vietnam People’s Navy.
- Mozambique: Gifting of Fast Interceptor Crafts (FICs) to aid counter-insurgency efforts in Cabo Delgado province.
- Sri Lanka: Commissioning of a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) to enhance search and rescue capabilities.
4. Institutional Mechanisms & Exercises
- Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):
- Launched: 2008 by India.
- Nature: A voluntary initiative to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the IOR.
- Current Status: India is set to assume the Chairmanship for 2025-27.
- Key Naval Exercises:
- Multilateral: MILAN (hosted by India), Malabar (Quad nations), RIMPAC.
- Bilateral:
- SIMBEX: India-Singapore
- Varuna: India-France
- CORPAT: Coordinated Patrols (with Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, etc.)
- Konkan: India-UK
