News Analysis India

Tag: Indian Ocean Region

  • Chinese intrusions into Indian Ocean not uncommon: Indian Navy

    By PTI

    KOCHI: The Indian Navy on Wednesday said it keeps surveillance over the Indian Ocean Region where “the Chinese intrusions are not uncommon” and asserted that the force was committed to protect the country’s interest in the strategic area.

    Southern Naval Command (SNC) chief, Vice Admiral M A Hampiholi, said the Indian Navy keeps surveillance in the region through satellites and maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

    His statement comes amid reports that a Chinese spy vessel has entered the Indian Ocean Region for the second time in the past few months.

    “The Chinese intrusions into the Indian Ocean region are not uncommon. They have been here for quite some time..I must assure you that we keep our areas of interest under surveillance throughout. We do that using a variety of means…,” SNC chief told reporters here in response to a query on the news reports on the Chinese spy vessel reaching Sri Lankan port.

    He said the Navy also keeps surveillance through satellites, maritime reconnaissance aircraft and also with the cooperation of the Coast Guard and their ships.

    “I would say that these (Chinese) movements or their presence doesn’t go unnoticed,” he said.

    Three months ago, a Chinese ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship had berthed at Sri Lanka’s southern port of Hambantota.

    On August 13, the Sri Lankan government had granted port access to the vessel from August 16 to 22 on condition that it will keep the Automatic Identification System (AIS) switched on within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the country and no scientific research would be conducted in its waters.

    India had flagged the ship’s technical capability and expressed worries about the purpose of its visit.

    New Delhi was concerned about the possibility of the ship’s tracking systems attempting to snoop on Indian installations.

    KOCHI: The Indian Navy on Wednesday said it keeps surveillance over the Indian Ocean Region where “the Chinese intrusions are not uncommon” and asserted that the force was committed to protect the country’s interest in the strategic area.

    Southern Naval Command (SNC) chief, Vice Admiral M A Hampiholi, said the Indian Navy keeps surveillance in the region through satellites and maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

    His statement comes amid reports that a Chinese spy vessel has entered the Indian Ocean Region for the second time in the past few months.

    “The Chinese intrusions into the Indian Ocean region are not uncommon. They have been here for quite some time..I must assure you that we keep our areas of interest under surveillance throughout. We do that using a variety of means…,” SNC chief told reporters here in response to a query on the news reports on the Chinese spy vessel reaching Sri Lankan port.

    He said the Navy also keeps surveillance through satellites, maritime reconnaissance aircraft and also with the cooperation of the Coast Guard and their ships.

    “I would say that these (Chinese) movements or their presence doesn’t go unnoticed,” he said.

    Three months ago, a Chinese ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship had berthed at Sri Lanka’s southern port of Hambantota.

    On August 13, the Sri Lankan government had granted port access to the vessel from August 16 to 22 on condition that it will keep the Automatic Identification System (AIS) switched on within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the country and no scientific research would be conducted in its waters.

    India had flagged the ship’s technical capability and expressed worries about the purpose of its visit.

    New Delhi was concerned about the possibility of the ship’s tracking systems attempting to snoop on Indian installations.

  • Indian Navy to hold key meeting next week

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The commanders of the Indian Navy are slated to meet next week to discuss important maritime matters at the military-strategic level through an institutionalised forum. The second edition of Naval Commanders’ Conference will commence from October 31. The first such meeting took place in April.

    The Indian Navy on Saturday said in a statement, “Due to the dynamic and fast-paced developments in security imperatives in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as well as in other parts of the world, the Conference has its own significance and relevance.”

    The Chief of the Naval Staff, along with other Naval Commanders, will review major Operational, Material, Logistics, Human Resource Development, Training and Administrative activities undertaken by the Indian Navy in the last few months and further deliberate upon future plans for important activities and initiatives, the Navy informed. The conference will also dwell upon the dynamics of the geostrategic situation of the region and the Navy’s readiness to deal with the same, added the Navy statement.

    NEW DELHI: The commanders of the Indian Navy are slated to meet next week to discuss important maritime matters at the military-strategic level through an institutionalised forum. The second edition of Naval Commanders’ Conference will commence from October 31. The first such meeting took place in April.

    The Indian Navy on Saturday said in a statement, “Due to the dynamic and fast-paced developments in security imperatives in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as well as in other parts of the world, the Conference has its own significance and relevance.”

    The Chief of the Naval Staff, along with other Naval Commanders, will review major Operational, Material, Logistics, Human Resource Development, Training and Administrative activities undertaken by the Indian Navy in the last few months and further deliberate upon future plans for important activities and initiatives, the Navy informed. The conference will also dwell upon the dynamics of the geostrategic situation of the region and the Navy’s readiness to deal with the same, added the Navy statement.

  • Drugs smuggling has increased in ‘quantum’ post-US exit from Afghanistan: Top Navy official 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Smuggling of narcotics has increased in “quantum and size” post the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, especially in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), a top Indian Navy official said on Tuesday.

    Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, said China’s footprint in the maritime domain of IOR has grown manifold over the last decade, with the increasing presence of its warships, research and fishing vessels apart from merchant ships.

    He termed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which started on February 24, as a “landmark” event which has already started shaping a shift in global geopolitics and the world economy.

    He also pointed out the extensive fishing by large fishing trawlers belonging to “extra regional countries”, especially China, operating in the North Arabian Sea.

    Although not in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the “detrimental effect” of extensive fishing on the downstream fish catch merits coordinated action by all coastal nations, Vice Admiral Singh said.

    “Narcotics trade has increased in quantum and size post the US withdrawal (from Afghanistan). Much of the narcotics are coming from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran,” he said.

    The senior Navy officer was responding to a question at the ‘Arabian Sea Dialogue’, a seminar organised by the Observer Research Foundation here.

    In his address at the event, Vice Admiral Singh said the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan after two decades has once again created instability in the region and it would take some time for the situation to stabilize.

    “Many times we wonder, what did 20 years of (troops) deployment (by the US) achieve for any country in the region,” he said.

    The US retreated from Afghanistan in August last year amid a swift takeover of the war-torn country by the Taliban.

    He said narco-trafficking constitutes nearly 50 per cent of the contraband smuggling in the region and has serious consequences on younger generations and societies.

    “Our ships undertake regular operations to curb narco smuggling at the sea — from the Makran coast till the Maldives — seizing contraband worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In our view, these operations will weaken the foundation of terrorist activities in the region and dry up their funding,” Vice Admiral Singh said.

    The Mumbai-headquartered Western Naval Command guards India’s maritime borders adjoining Pakistan and also the country’s vast EEZ, is an area of the sea in which a country has special rights regarding exploration and use of marine resources.

    Indian security agencies have seized drugs worth thousands of crores from Maharashtra and Gujarat in the last one year.

    To address the challenge of Illegal Unreported & Unregulated (IUU) fishing, there is an urgent need to review existing mechanisms of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, Vice Admiral Singh suggested.

    “We could together create a new framework to prevent depletion of our vital food resource. In my opinion, IUU fishing directly impacts the food security of the region and could be one of the priority ‘areas of collaboration’ between India and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries,” he said.

    The Indian Navy officer said overall, the world has witnessed a more assertive China and this aggressive posturing has been evident both in the South and East China Seas as well as closer in the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean Region.

    Referring to the tension between China and Taiwan post-visit of senior US officials to the latter in the recent months, Vice Admiral Singh said sabre-rattling and tension in the Indo-Pacific are again gathering steam with the recent developments in the self-governing island.

    This could disturb the status quo and may have a larger impact on the global security scenario, he cautioned.

    MUMBAI: Smuggling of narcotics has increased in “quantum and size” post the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, especially in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), a top Indian Navy official said on Tuesday.

    Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, said China’s footprint in the maritime domain of IOR has grown manifold over the last decade, with the increasing presence of its warships, research and fishing vessels apart from merchant ships.

    He termed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which started on February 24, as a “landmark” event which has already started shaping a shift in global geopolitics and the world economy.

    He also pointed out the extensive fishing by large fishing trawlers belonging to “extra regional countries”, especially China, operating in the North Arabian Sea.

    Although not in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the “detrimental effect” of extensive fishing on the downstream fish catch merits coordinated action by all coastal nations, Vice Admiral Singh said.

    “Narcotics trade has increased in quantum and size post the US withdrawal (from Afghanistan). Much of the narcotics are coming from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran,” he said.

    The senior Navy officer was responding to a question at the ‘Arabian Sea Dialogue’, a seminar organised by the Observer Research Foundation here.

    In his address at the event, Vice Admiral Singh said the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan after two decades has once again created instability in the region and it would take some time for the situation to stabilize.

    “Many times we wonder, what did 20 years of (troops) deployment (by the US) achieve for any country in the region,” he said.

    The US retreated from Afghanistan in August last year amid a swift takeover of the war-torn country by the Taliban.

    He said narco-trafficking constitutes nearly 50 per cent of the contraband smuggling in the region and has serious consequences on younger generations and societies.

    “Our ships undertake regular operations to curb narco smuggling at the sea — from the Makran coast till the Maldives — seizing contraband worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In our view, these operations will weaken the foundation of terrorist activities in the region and dry up their funding,” Vice Admiral Singh said.

    The Mumbai-headquartered Western Naval Command guards India’s maritime borders adjoining Pakistan and also the country’s vast EEZ, is an area of the sea in which a country has special rights regarding exploration and use of marine resources.

    Indian security agencies have seized drugs worth thousands of crores from Maharashtra and Gujarat in the last one year.

    To address the challenge of Illegal Unreported & Unregulated (IUU) fishing, there is an urgent need to review existing mechanisms of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, Vice Admiral Singh suggested.

    “We could together create a new framework to prevent depletion of our vital food resource. In my opinion, IUU fishing directly impacts the food security of the region and could be one of the priority ‘areas of collaboration’ between India and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries,” he said.

    The Indian Navy officer said overall, the world has witnessed a more assertive China and this aggressive posturing has been evident both in the South and East China Seas as well as closer in the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean Region.

    Referring to the tension between China and Taiwan post-visit of senior US officials to the latter in the recent months, Vice Admiral Singh said sabre-rattling and tension in the Indo-Pacific are again gathering steam with the recent developments in the self-governing island.

    This could disturb the status quo and may have a larger impact on the global security scenario, he cautioned.

  • Indian Ocean Region to face ever-increasing battery of threats and uncertainties: Foreign Secretary

    By PTI

    PANAJI: The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) will face an ever-increasing battery of threats and uncertainties, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Monday.

    Addressing the Goa Maritime Conclave on “Maritime security and emerging non-traditional threats: A case for proactive role for Indian Ocean Region navies”, he also spoke of challenges arising from geopolitical volatilities.

    A lack of commitment to settled international law has led to an increased militarization of the region, he said.

    Militarization always adds to complexities, he added.

    “The Indian Ocean Region, it is quite obvious, will face an increasingly complicated, rapidly evolving, and more demanding security situation, with an ever-increasing battery of threats and uncertainties,” Shringla said.

    “This requires all of us, and in particular the navies, the coast guards and the maritime security agencies of this region, to do more together,” he said.

    “India stands ready and willing to do its share – and more – in tackling these problems,” he added.

    The conclave was organised by the Naval War College in Goa.

    “Security in the context of foreign policy or diplomacy has traditionally been associated with countering external security threats – primarily military. Historically, diplomatic efforts to improve security have been about negotiating security alliances,” Shringla said.

    “We now operate on the basis of an expanded concept of human security that takes a broader view,” he said.

    “We are in the process of devising a new set of measures and arrangements that reflect this understanding of security. They are based less on the traditional concept of a military alliance and more on a cooperative approach, on prevention, on sharing of information, and, on promoting inter-operability across state borders,” he said.

    Many of these cooperative activities that we undertake are in the policing and law-enforcement spheres, he said.

    “It is my belief that these measures are more appropriate to the newer and rapidly evolving threat matrix that we are confronted with,” Shringla said.

    Referring to the IOR countries, he said “We also inhabit a particular contemporary geopolitical and geoeconomics reality.”

    “We are a part of the greater Indo-Pacific space. This is a construct that has, for a very good reason, attracted much diplomatic and strategic attention,” he added.

    Shringla said the rapid growth of Asia’s share in global output, the business prowess of Asian companies and the growing Asian technological abilities are driving the global economic centre of gravity to the East.

    The coronavirus pandemic is the greatest shock for our generation but also a moment of opportunity as all crises are succeeded by periods of growth, he said.

    “Empirically speaking, crises accelerate transitions and the emergence of new realities. The Covid pandemic is certainly the greatest shock in the memories of our generation,” he said.

    He pointed out that the pandemic locked down an entire planet, destroyed lives, claimed livelihoods, closed schools and educational institutes, and accentuated fault lines in many environments.

    “Paradoxically, this is also a moment of opportunity. Empirically speaking again, all crises are succeeded by periods of growth,” he added.

    The foreign secretary recalled that the Great Depression and the Second World War were followed by sustained economic growth.

    “Major health crises have led to investments in medical science and public health that have transformed our lives,” he said, adding major economies are on the rebound.

    He said that the pandemic has highlighted both the opportunity and the vulnerabilities of the maritime sector.

    Shringla said this combination of opportunity and vulnerability is something that we will have to accommodate in our priorities and policies and to build in resilience, sustainability and reliability in our supply chain.

    “As we all know, these massive logistical capacities cushioned some impact of the pandemic.

    We have, however, now become painfully aware that the economic rebound is being stressed by shipping delays and shortages of containers,” the foreign secretary said.

  • UK’s carrier strike group enters Indian Ocean, to conduct wargame with Indian Navy

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The UK’s carrier strike group led by aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has sailed into the Indian Ocean region and will carry out a wargame with the Indian Navy later this month in reflection of growing bilateral military ties.

    India military officials said a series of complex drills will be carried out as part of the wargame that is expected to take place around July 26.

    The high commission of the UK in India said the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2021, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, has sailed into the Indian Ocean Region after transiting the Suez Canal.

    “Following a series of successful engagements and operations in the Mediterranean it is now sailing east across the Indian Ocean towards India. It will then meet with ships from the Indian Navy to conduct routine maritime exercises,” the high commission said in a statement.

    It said the deployment represents the UK’s commitment to deepening diplomatic, economic and security ties with India and in the Indo-Pacific region.

    “It demonstrates both the UK’s support for the freedom of passage through vital trading routes and for a free, open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific,” it added.

    British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace described the deployment of the CSG as a “major moment” for the UK’s defence.

    “The group is sailing the Indian Ocean and will shortly conduct exercises with the Indian Navy, building on our already strong partnership with an important ally and friend,” he said.

    “The deployment illustrates the UK’s enduring commitment to global defence and security, strengthening our existing alliances and forging new partnerships with like-minded countries as we face up to the challenges of the 21st century,” Wallace was quoted as saying in the statement.

    Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the deployment of the CSG marks the start of a new era of defence cooperation with India and allies in the Indo-Pacific.

    “By visiting 40 countries and working alongside our partners, the UK is standing up for democratic values, seizing new trading opportunities and tackling the shared threats we face together,” he said.

    British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis, said: “The Carrier Strike Group is a powerful demonstration of our commitment to the security of India and the Indo-Pacific. Its arrival follows the UK’s first International Liaison Officer joining the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram.”

    “Today marks another step towards delivering the ambition set out jointly by our prime ministers in the 2030 Roadmap, bringing our countries, economies and people closer together,” he said.

  • We can protect Indian Ocean Region: Rajnath Singh

    By Express News Service
    BENGALURU: In a tangential way, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sought to reaffirm and redefine India’s traditional role in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as against China’s aggressive agenda, by offering to take on the task of being a net security provider in the IOR. “India can be a reliable partner in the region and we can take on the role of being a net security provider here,” said Singh here on Wednesday.

    Addres s ing the Chiefs of Air Staff conclave, attended by senior officers from 26 countries, he emphasised the need for these countries to work together and towards the common goal of maintaining peace in the region. The conclave is one of the highlights of Aero India 2021 that started on Wednesday, and senior officers from friendly nations are attending the twoday session virtually. Singh said IOR is one of the most densely populated regions in the world and is prone to natural calamities that cause extensive damage to lives and properties.

    India can be a reliable partner as it looks forward to cooperation from friendly countries to create a more stable environment, he added. He said that new technologies are changing the way battles will be fought in the future and India is focused on building those capabilities. On the role played by the Indian Air Force and its drive for self-reliance, he said that India’s defence acquisition policy has created an ideal environment and it is the best time for foreign firms to invest in the country.

    Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said there is a need to enhance cooperation among air forces of friendly nations. The advent of new technologies has complicated the art of fighting wars and a threat may emanate several time zones away but can have an impact at some other place.

    ‘IAF developing UAV capabilities’

    Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria added, “We are closely watching the threat posed by technologies like drones. The Indian Air Force is developing capabilities in unmanned aircraft and anti-drone capabilities and technologies.” He said that LCA Tejas is one of the best aircraft in its class and IAF is also developing an advanced medium combat aircraft.Senior officers from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the USA, Iran, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, Qatar, Myanmar and other countries are taking part in the conclave.

    CM: MRO UNITS PLANNED IN B’LURU, HASSAN Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday said the State Government is planning to set up maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities near Kempegowda International Airport at Devanahalli, and in Hassan. The acquisition of land for the Hassan airport project is completed, while an aerospace park near KIA was set up in 2008. With excellent connectivity and surplus power, it is the best state for investment in defence and aerospace sectors, he said

  • India can take on the role of net security provider in Indian Ocean Region: Rajnath Singh

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said India can take on the role of being the net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region as geopolitically it is a reliable partner in the IOR.

    “We live in a challenging geo-political landscape where countries not only have to face the threat of military aggression, but natural calamities which include pandemics like COVID-19 which has wreaked havoc in the last one year,” Singh said.

    Therefore, when faced with threats across multiple dimensions, it is imperative for the nation to strengthen relations with countries with whom it shared converging views on key global issues, he said,addressing the inaugural session of Chiefs of the Air Staff Conclave at Aero India here. “Geopolitically India is a reliable partner in the Indian Ocean Region and can take on the role of being the net security provider in the region,” he added.

    Noting that air power has and would continue to play a critical role in maintaining regional stability and peace in the region, Singh said freedom of manoeuvre provided by air and space capabilities enables the nation to influence in a sustainable and clearly escalable manner.

    He said that the Indian Air force is at the very forefront of offensive capabilities with its reach, speed and precision. “India’s unique disposition in the IOR, complimented by a potent airlift capability of IAF, enables it to contribute significantly in Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions,” he said.

    Singh noted that India has been regularly conducting exercises to deepen HADR cooperation and coordination among its neighbours with a focus on sharing expertise and assisting building capabilities. He also said that the recent conflicts had shown the potency of emerging technologies and India is heavily focused on building these capabilities. “We are keen to cooperate with our defence partners in these niche technologies with focus on knowledge sharing and co-production,” he added.

    Officials said that the Chiefs of the Air Staff Conclave today had physical representation from 26 countries, while 14 were in attendance virtually. They said that the Conclave has been planned with three sessions to address the themes of disruptive technologies and innovations, air power in Indo-Pacific region and air power and airspace strategies.

    Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, in his keynote address, said “we have witnessed a paradigm change in the Geo-political landscape in recent years and globally, we are facing unprecedented levels of uncertainty, volatility and interconnected threats.

    ” While the world was grappling with complications and control of the pandemic, the worsening inter-state relations, rising mistrust and geopolitical tensions have only reinforced the importance of mature and balanced cooperation at international level, he said.

    “We need to strengthen our mutual understanding and existing security frameworks based on the principles of Cooperation, Collaboration and Coexistence,” he said, adding that for India, the security challenges are as varied as its geography and as unpredictable as the nation’s threats.

    Noting that the nature of warfare has changed significantly in the last few years, the air chief said advent of new technologies and cross linking of ‘Physical’, ‘Digital’ and ‘Cognitive’ domains has complicated the art of war fighting considerably.

    “Our understanding of national boundaries has shifted well beyond the classical definitions of airspaces, land borders and shorelines. An attack may originate without warning, several time zones away, and its effect may proliferate rapidly across several domains. Also, the exponential technological progress made in the last few years has made the realm of sub-con warfare more complex,’ Bhadauria said.

    He said that the low cost and easy availability of simple disruptive technology like drones with small state and non-state actors have made them more lethal, agile and capable of generating disproportionate effects.

    “We are closely observing these developments and are focusing on developing capabilities in unmanned, and optionally manned platforms, manned-unmanned teaming, and anti-drone technologies,” he added.

  • India to host Indian Ocean Region defence ministers’ conclave next month

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India will host the defence ministers of the countries of the Indian Ocean Region at a conclave during upcoming Aero India in Bengaluru, officials said on Friday.

    India is organising the conclave in the backdrop of growing Chinese military assertiveness in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

    “Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is hosting the IOR defence ministers’ conclave on February 4. It will be held during the Aero India 2021,” said an official.

    The conclave is being organised as part of an initiative to promote dialogue in an institutional and cooperative environment that can foster peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region, the official said.

    “The broad theme of the conclave will be ‘Enhanced Peace, Security and Cooperation in the Indian Ocean’. The conclave would address aspects related to synergising the resources and efforts in the Indian Ocean,” the official said.

    “The IOR conclave is an effort towards India’s commitment and continued engagement in the Indian Ocean both for defence diplomacy as also for economic prosperity through sustained engagement, dialogue, experience sharing and exchange of best practices,” he said.

    The conclave is also taking place at a time Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a bitter standoff in eastern Ladakh for the last eight months.

    In sync with the national security doctrine, the Indian Navy has significantly increased its deployment of warships, submarines and other assets in the Indian Ocean Region, in an attempt to send across a message to China.

    The Indian Ocean, considered the backyard of the Indian Navy, is critical for India’s strategic interests.

    China has been making concerted efforts to increase its presence in the region.

    The next edition of Aero India, considered Asia’s largest aerospace exhibition, will be held in its traditional venue of Bengaluru from February 3-5.