READOUT: Pacific Fleet Commander’s travel to India, Feb. 17-19

25 February 2026

From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visited India alongside Fleet Master Chief Donald L. Davis, Jr., from Feb. 17-19, 2026, to reaffirm the strong partnership between the two nations, and participate in International Fleet Review and exercise MILAN 2026 to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Download

Heads of delegations at MILAN 2026 pose for a photo with the Indian President

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, (3rd from right, back row) and other heads of delegations pose for a photo with President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu during International Fleet Review 2026 as part of exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 17, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (Photo courtesy of Indian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, travels to Visakhapatnam, India for MILAN 2026.

Commodore Rajat Kumar, commanding officer of INS Dega Base, right, greets Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, upon his arrival to Visakhapatnam, India, for exercise MILAN 2026, Feb. 17, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

While in Visakhapatnam, Koehler met with ally and partner government and military officials to discuss the importance of maritime security, information sharing, and integrated training and exercises between naval forces to maintain peace, and security in the Indo-Pacific.

Bilateral engagements at International Fleet Review included:

Adm. Dinesh Tripathi, Indian Chief of the Naval Staff
Vice Adm. Tea Sokha, commander of the Royal Cambodian Navy
Maj. Gen. Paul Otieno Owuor, commander of the Kenya Navy
Vice Adm. Datuk Badarudin bin Taha, deputy chief of Royal Malaysian Navy
Rear Adm. Sean Wat, Singapore Chief of Navy
Vice Adm. Ignacio Paz García, chief of the Plans Division for the Spanish Navy

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Indian Chief of the Naval Staff Adm. Dinesh Tripathi during exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 17, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and Vice Adm. Tea Sokha, commander of the Royal Cambodian Navy, conduct a bilateral meeting during exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 17, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, and Maj. Gen. Paul Otieno Owuor, commander of the Kenya Navy, pose for a photo during exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 18, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Vice Adm. Datuk Badarudin bin Taha, deputy chief of Royal Malaysian Navy, during exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 18, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and Singapore Chief of Navy Rear Adm. Sean Wat pose for a photo during exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 18, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and Vice Adm. Ignacio Paz García, chief of the Plans Division for the Spanish Navy, conduct a bilateral meeting during exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 17, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Don Davis travels to Visakhapatnam, India, for exercise MILAN 2026

U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Don Davis poses for a photo with Master Chief Petty Officer Ram Dular, MCPO to the Chief of Indian Naval Staff, during exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 18, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy)

He also participated in a multilateral engagement including:

Rear Adm. Chris Smith, commander of the Australian Fleet
Commodore Timoci Natuva, commander of the Fiji Navy
Captain Philippe Vauterin, French Navy’s Liaison Officer to India’s International Fusion Centre — Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)
Cmdr. Sione Lino, commander of the Royal Tongan Navy

From left to right: Capt. Philippe Vauterin, French Navy Liaison Officer to India’s International Fusion Centre — Indian Ocean Region; Commodore Timoci Natuva, commander of the Fiji Navy; Cmdr. Sione Lino, commander of the Royal Tongan Navy; Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet; and Rear Adm. Chris Smith, commander of the Australian Fleet, pose for a photo during a multilateral meeting during exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 17, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Koehler also observed U.S. and partner forces participating in the 13th iteration of exercise MILAN, an Indian Navy-hosted biennial multinational exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. He attended the International Fleet Review, presided over by President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu from aboard Saryu-class naval offshore patrol vessel INS Sumedha (P58).

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, poses for a photo with Sailors assigned to Maritime Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 during exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 18, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, meets with Sailors assigned to Maritime Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 during exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 18, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Sailors assigned to Maritime Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 during exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 18, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, front center left, and other heads of delegations pose for a photo aboard Saryu-class naval offshore patrol vessel INS Sumedha (P58) during International Fleet Review 2026 as part of exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 18, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (Photo courtesy of Indian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, (2nd from right, back row) and other heads of delegations pose for a photo with President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu during International Fleet Review 2026 as part of exercise MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 17, 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy, MILAN 2026 is a biennial, multilateral exercise focused on enhancing interaction between professional navies and gaining experience in operations at sea. The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous. (Photo courtesy of Indian Navy)

The visit to India underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is secure, free, and prosperous.