Photo Credit: x.com/indiannavy
India and Germany moved to strengthen naval cooperation during high-level bilateral talks held on the sidelines of Exercise MILAN and the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 in Visakhapatnam this week.
Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti met Vice Admiral Axel Deertz, Commander of the German Fleet and Supporting Forces, as part of a series of leadership-level interactions taking place alongside the multilateral maritime events, which commenced in mid-February 2026.
According to the Indian Navy, the discussions focused on expanding cooperation between the two navies, enhancing professional exchanges, and sustaining long-term maritime engagement across the Indo-Pacific.
Focus on Operational Cooperation and Exchanges
In an official post shared on X on February 2026, the Indian Navy said the engagement underlined growing alignment between the two forces.
“As leadership interactions progressed at Visakhapatnam, Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, engaged with Vice Admiral Axel Deertz, Commander of the German Fleet and Supporting Forces,” the Navy said.
“The interaction highlighted avenues for enhanced cooperation, professional exchanges, and sustained maritime engagements, with continued interactions planned during MILAN 2026.”
The Navy further noted that Germany’s participation with a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft reflected increasing operational convergence and interoperability between the Indian and German navies, particularly in maritime surveillance and information-sharing domains.
Indian Navy Demonstrates Multi-Domain Capability
Earlier during the International Fleet Review 2026, held on February 18, the Indian Navy showcased its multi-domain operational readiness through a range of demonstrations. These included coordinated search and rescue drills, operational readiness displays by the Marine Commandos (MARCOS), and complex maritime manoeuvres involving multiple platforms.
Iconic assets, including aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, were highlighted during the review to underscore India’s combat preparedness and its growing indigenous maritime capability.
One of India’s Largest Naval Gatherings
The IFR 2026 is among the largest naval events hosted by India since independence. The event is set to feature 71 naval ships, including 19 foreign warships, with participation from around 65 nations as part of Exercise MILAN, which runs concurrently through February 2026.
The engagement with Germany comes amid India’s broader push to deepen defence and maritime partnerships with European countries, as New Delhi positions itself as a key security partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
