In this screenshot from a video on YouTube/@PresidentOfIndia on February 18, 2026, President Droupadi Murmu arrives to witness the International Fleet Review 2026, at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
| Photo Credit: PTI

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) said that the Indian Navy is vigilant in safeguarding country’s maritime interests and is contributing to stability across wider maritime commerce.

Presiding over the International Fleet Review (IFR) off Vizag coast abroad an Indian Naval warship in the Bay of Bengal, the President said the Indian Navy is deployed in the region to serve as a credible instrument of deterrence and defence against threats and challenges arising in the sea.

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“Indian Navy is vigilant in safeguarding India’s maritime interests and is contributing to stability across wider maritime commerce,” Ms. Murmu said.

Further, she noted that the Indian Navy plays a vital role in promoting goodwill and building bridges of trust, confidence and friendship with navies around the globe.

Ms. Murmu addressed the IFR after she sailed to review several Indian and foreign vessels.

Published – February 18, 2026 01:51 pm IST