On February 20, the Prime Ministers of India and Mauritius marked a significant milestone in their bilateral relations by jointly inaugurating the Agalega Airstrip and Saint James Jetty, along with six community development projects on Mauritius Island.
This development is poised to enhance both communication and security for maritime traffic in the Indian Ocean, especially benefiting commercial ships that have been compelled to navigate longer sea routes due to terrorist threats emanating from the Red Sea amidst the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the occasion as a testament to the strength of the India-Mauritius relationship, aligning with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative. He underscored Mauritius’ status as a “valued friend of India,” emphasizing the project’s role in reinforcing the bond between the two nations.
The SAGAR initiative is central to India’s maritime strategy, positioning the nation as a benign security stabilizer in the region, promoting trade, and ensuring the safety of maritime routes against the backdrop of increasing regional uncertainties and challenges posed by extra-regional powers.
The development of Agalega Island as a staging point offers India strategic advantages, particularly in bolstering maritime reconnaissance efforts across the region. This upgraded infrastructure facilitates improved surveillance and response capabilities, thereby enhancing India’s maritime security posture in the face of growing strategic competition from China.
China’s expanding presence and activities in the Indian Ocean region pose challenges to India’s security interests. By leveraging the upgraded facilities on Agalega Island, India aims to strengthen its position and assert its influence in the region, countering China’s strategic manoeuvres effectively.
Equally, in response to the escalating threats of piracy and drone attacks on commercial vessels, which have significantly impacted critical sea lanes of communication and led to a surge in freight rates, India has bolstered its naval presence in the region.
This includes the deployment of over 10 frontline warships equipped with marine commandos across the northern and central Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This move is part of India’s “enhanced maritime security operations,” aimed at showcasing its naval capabilities and deterring potential threats which has been much appreciated by different countries, more so after India saved from pirates several crew members of the merchant ships including Pakistan and Iran crew members.
This comprises regular intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions conducted by P-81 long-range maritime patrol aircraft and unarmed MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones. The operations are complemented by continuous information sharing and coordination with friendly foreign navies, underscoring India’s commitment to promoting net maritime security and safeguarding vital maritime corridors. However, India has chosen to conduct these operations independently, opting not to participate in the US-led multinational “Operation Prosperity Guardian” initiated in the Red Sea in December, following attacks by Houthi rebels of Yemen in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
India’s Naval Strength:
A Leap Forward with Advanced Acquisitions and Ambitious Expansion Plans
India’s maritime security and naval prowess in the Indian Ocean have further taken a significant leap forward with the recent acquisition of 24 MH 60R fourth-generation helicopters from the United States.
This move, part of a broader strategy to enhance naval capabilities, has provided the Indian Navy with state-of-the-art helicopters, marking a significant enhancement in maritime operations. These multifaceted helicopters, designed for a wide range of operations including anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, as well as search and rescue missions, address a critical capability gap and substantially boost surveillance and operational readiness. The MH 60R helicopters are equipped with torpedoes, missiles, and advanced precision kill weapon systems.
Their unique self-protection suite and integration with major naval assets, such as the INS Vikrant, underscore a significant enhancement in India’s defensive and operational efficiency in the maritime domain. The commissioning of advanced vessels like the INS Vagir and the operationalization of the INS Vikrant not only exemplify India’s achievements in modernizing its fleet but also underline its capacity to maintain and upgrade naval assets in cooperation with neighbouring nations. These developments, coupled with India’s strategic shipbuilding contracts and the construction of advanced warships, position India as an emerging maritime power in the Indo-Pacific.
The new base, INS Jatayu, in the Minicoy Islands of Lakshadweep:
The Indian Navy is enhancing its presence in the Indian Ocean with the commissioning of a new base, INS Jatayu, in the Minicoy Islands of Lakshadweep. This strategic move aims to monitor the military and commercial activities of adversaries. Additionally, the Navy is set to induct the MH 60R helicopter into its fleet, enhancing its Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will likely commission the MH 60R Seahawk at INS Garuda on March 6. Furthermore, the Navy will convene its commanders’ conference on board INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, focusing on high-tempo operations including inter-carrier aircraft manoeuvres and participation from other naval assets.
India’s Vision:
On a broader scale, India is aiming to acquire 175-200 warships equipped with cutting-edge technology by 2035. This vision is part of a larger goal towards achieving self-reliance in naval defence by 2047, reflecting a deep commitment to maritime security and a strong presence in the Indo-Pacific region. With over 50 ships and submarines currently under construction, including planned acquisitions of corvettes, submarines, and survey vessels, India is on a path to significantly bolster its naval capabilities.
Despite challenges such as construction delays, decommissioning of older vessels, and budgetary constraints, the milestones achieved with the INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, highlight India’s growing prowess in naval engineering and construction. The country’s shift from being a ‘Buyers Navy’ to a ‘Builders Navy’, with a remarkable focus on indigenous shipbuilding, is a clear indication of its commitment to self-reliance and technological advancement.
A strategic shift
This shift is underscored by a historical context where India, learning from past security breaches such as the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the rampant use of sea routes for smuggling and terrorism, has heightened its vigilance and preparedness. India’s strategic geographic position, with an extensive coastline, positions it as a pivotal player in the region, capable of influencing vital sea lanes that are crucial for global commerce and regional connectivity. The Indian Navy has emerged as a central figure in this security paradigm, focusing on building friendly relations with neighbouring coastal states, enhancing crisis response capabilities, and bolstering the maritime capabilities of allied nations.
Through a series of bilateral exercises, joint patrols, capacity-building efforts, and hydrographic surveys, India has strengthened its ties with maritime forces across Asia, Africa, and the Gulf. This outreach extends India’s influence beyond its immediate neighbourhood into the Western Indian Ocean, West Asia, and the Gulf, marking its evolution as a “regional security provider.”
By focusing on advanced acquisitions and indigenous shipbuilding, India not only strengthens its naval capabilities but also contributes significantly to its strategic goals of self-reliance and regional stability, marking a new era in its maritime defence strategy.
The author is National Editor Greater Kashmir