Vice Admiral Bhalla Updates President on Eastern Naval Command's Role in Maritime Security and IFR 2026 Preparations

Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, along with Mrs. Priya Bhalla, the President of the Naval Wives Welfare Association (Eastern Region), had an audience with the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhavan today.

In the meeting, Vice Admiral Bhalla provided the President with an update on the current maritime security conditions in the Indian Ocean Region and along India's eastern seaboard. He emphasized the Eastern Naval Command's high level of operational readiness, morale, and professionalism, highlighting its status as the Sunrise Command.

Vice Admiral Bhalla informed the President about the preparations underway for significant international maritime events set to take place in Visakhapatnam in February 2026. These include:

These high-level gatherings, scheduled between 15 and 25 February 2026, are anticipated to feature participation from naval forces across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. This will further establish India as a pivotal maritime partner and a net security provider in the region.

The engagement highlighted India's dedication to maritime security, regional collaboration, and capacity building through multilateral naval interactions. The forthcoming events such as IFR, Exercise MILAN, and the IONS Conclave are designed to boost interoperability, build trust, and encourage unified efforts to maintain peace, stability, and security in the global maritime arena.

This meeting emphasized the robust connection between India's political leaders and its Armed Forces, continuing to stress the importance of readiness, diplomacy, and cooperation in the country's maritime strategy.