The Indian Navy will host the multi-national MILAN series of exercises at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar islands from March 6 to 13.

“Besides fostering co-operation through naval exercises and professional interactions, MILAN provides an excellent opportunity to the participating navies to come together in a spirit of collaboration and mutual understanding to nurture stronger ties,” the Navy said in a statement on Sunday.

MILAN is a congregation of littoral navies conducted biennially by the Indian Navy under the aegis of the Andaman and Nicobar Command.

It began in 1995 with the participation of four littoral navies and has steadily grown in size and complexity, encompassing participation of maritime forces from not just the Bay of Bengal and South East Asia but the larger Indian Ocean Region.

With the underlying theme of ‘Friendship Across the Seas,’ MILAN 2018 will witness a diverse mix of professional exercises and seminars, social events and sporting fixtures, the Navy’s statement said.