Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Eastern Naval Command, accompanied by Mrs Priya Bhalla, President of the Naval Wives Welfare Association (Eastern Region), called on the Hon’ble President of India and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhavan today.
During the interaction, Vice Admiral Bhalla briefed the Hon’ble President on the prevailing maritime security scenario in the Indian Ocean Region and along India’s eastern seaboard. He reaffirmed the high state of operational readiness, morale, and professionalism of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command, also known as the Sunrise Command.
Focus on Major Multinational Naval Events
The FOC-in-C apprised the President of preparations for several major international maritime engagements scheduled to be hosted at Visakhapatnam in February 2026, including:
- International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026
- Exercise MILAN 2026
- Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs
These high-profile events, to be held from 15 to 25 February 2026, are expected to witness participation from navies across the Indo-Pacific and beyond, reinforcing India’s role as a key maritime partner and net security provider in the region.
Reaffirming India’s Maritime Vision
The interaction underscored India’s commitment to maritime security, regional cooperation, and capacity building through multilateral naval engagement. The forthcoming IFR, Exercise MILAN, and IONS Conclave are aimed at enhancing interoperability, fostering trust, and promoting shared approaches to ensuring peace, stability, and security in the global maritime domain.
The call reflected the strong linkage between India’s political leadership and the Armed Forces, and the continued emphasis on readiness, diplomacy, and cooperation as pillars of India’s maritime strategy.
