India solidifies role as key security partner in Indian Ocean region: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, Sep 19: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has highlighted India’s growing importance as a preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), highlighting the key role of the Indian Navy in promoting peace and prosperity in this strategically vital area.

Addressing the second edition of the Naval Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi, Singh urged the Navy to remain prepared for any eventuality in the current volatile global scenario.

Rajnath Singh underscored the importance of the Indian Ocean, noting its critical role in global trade, geopolitics, and security. He pointed out that a major portion of the world’s trade passes through this region, making it a valuable and sensitive area. “A large part of the world’s trade passes through the region, which makes it valuable.

At the same time, incidents like piracy, hijacking, drone attacks, missile attacks and disruption of sea cable connections in the seas make it extremely sensitive. Our Navy has made a significant contribution in protecting the economic interests of all stakeholder nations of the Indo-Pacific and in the smooth movement of goods in the Indian Ocean region. Its anti-piracy operations are garnering appreciation not only in India but also globally. India is now seen as a preferred security partner in this entire region. Whenever need be, we will ensure security in the region,” Shri Rajnath Singh said.

Singh stated. He commended the Indian Navy’s efforts in safeguarding the economic interests of all stakeholder nations in the Indo-Pacific, particularly through its anti-piracy operations, which have received global recognition.

Highlighting India’s evolving maritime outlook, Singh remarked, “While India was once seen as a landlocked nation with seashores, today it is viewed as an island country with land borders, reflecting our strategic focus on maritime security.” He lauded the Navy’s readiness to safeguard the nation’s maritime interests, which has established India as a credible first responder in the region.

Singh also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing the Navy’s capabilities under the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India). He revealed that 64 ships and submarines are currently under construction in Indian shipyards, with orders placed for 24 additional platforms. This, he noted, signifies the government’s focus on indigenisation and strengthening the domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem.

“In the last five years, more than two-thirds of the Navy’s modernization budget has been allocated to indigenous procurement, accelerating the development of the domestic defence sector,” Singh said. He expressed confidence that this focus would transform the Indian Navy from a ‘buyer’ to a ‘builder,’ aiming for complete self-reliance by 2047.

The defence minister called on the Navy to continuously introspect and be prepared for any situation, emphasising the need for a strong naval presence to protect India’s economic, trade, and national interests.

The conference, attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, and other senior civil and military officials, serves as the apex-level biannual event for deliberations on strategic, operational, and administrative issues.

The conference was held against the backdrop of evolving geopolitical and geostrategic dynamics, particularly in West Asia, the conference is crucial in shaping the future course of the Indian Navy.

The event also showcased indigenous technological advancements by the Engineering Establishment, including autonomous systems, domain awareness tools, and software-defined radios.

As the conference concluded, Singh reiterated the Navy’s status as a “combat-ready, credible, cohesive, and future-ready force,” dedicated to safeguarding India’s maritime interests and enhancing its role as a key security partner in the Indian Ocean Region.