On September 10, the Indian navy carried out a maritime partnership exercise with the Sudanese navy in the Red Sea. Despite building a strong energy partnership in the 2000s, it was the first time that Indian and Sudanese navies conducted such an exercise. From the Indian side, INS Tabar participated in the exercise along with the Sudanese ships Almazz and Nimar.

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/simbex-india-singapore-naval-drill-in-south-china-sea-410815" hreflang="en">SIMBEX: India-Singapore naval drill in South China Sea</a> 
 
The exercise included `multiple activities covering a wide range of naval operations such as `co-ordinated manoeuvring, replenishment at sea [RAS] drills, helo operations, operations for interdicting suspect vessels at sea and communication procedures.` The exercise `enhanced interoperability between the two navies significantly and widened the scope for combined operations against common maritime threats in future.` 
 
INS Tabar is on an overseas deployment to Europe and Africa. Apart from Sudan, it has also conducted naval exercises with the Egyptian navy in the Mediterranean. Egypt and Sudan are important players in the geopolitics of the Red Sea and due to their proximity with the Suez Canal, are located along one of the most important maritime routes. Therefore, both of these exercises are of significant strategic import and point towards the expanding maritime horizons of the Indian navy. 
 
Red Sea Geopolitics 
 
The Red Sea links West Asia with Africa and is a critical geopolitical space where the rivalries between the Gulf powers are being played out. The Red Sea also links the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean through the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb and Suez Canal. Large quantities of oil and trade pass through the Red Sea. It is a critical waterway for global energy security and the international economy. The recent blockage of the Suez Canal underscored the strategically important role of the Red Sea and Suez Canal for the global economy. 
 
In the last few years, the Red Sea has emerged as a critical sub-theatre in the evolving geopolitics of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). Foreign powers have established their military presence in the region and are taking a greater interest in the affairs of the maritime as well as continental space in and around the Red Sea. Russia, China, the United States (US), France, and Japan hold military facilities in the region. Even the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia are active in shaping the trajectory of regional geopolitics and security. 
 
In fact, the presence of security threats such as terrorism and maritime piracy brought foreign powers to the region. US established its expansive network of bases in the WIO and Africa including at Djibouti after launching the Global War on Terror. Maritime piracy in the Gulf of Aden around 2007-08 was threatening global shipping and Somalia was unable to contain pirates operating out of its territorial waters. Therefore, a multinational maritime security effort was launched. The navies of major powers including Russia, China, Japan, and South Korea sent their warships to the region to participate in the anti-piracy operations. 
 
Indian Naval Presence 
 
The Indian navy too played a key role in the counter-piracy operations. India is a resident naval power with a willingness and desire to contribute towards the maintenance of regional security in the Indian Ocean including in the sub-theater of the Northwest Indian Ocean. Over the years, India has managed to regularize its maritime presence in the Gulf of Aden and Southwest Indian Ocean. Time and again, India has extended much-needed humanitarian assistance to the littoral states in the region. India has also positioned itself as the `preferred security partner` in the region. 
 
Indian navy is uniquely placed in the regional geopolitics of the Northwest Indian Ocean. It enjoys close relationship with the US, Japan, and France, and consequently, the Indian navy ships can access their naval bases in Djibouti. Russia`s upcoming naval base at Port Sudan also opens up opportunities for greater collaboration between Indian and Russian navies in the Red Sea and WIO. 
 
India`s deepening strategic partnership with UAE could be strengthened further in the domain of maritime security in the context of the geopolitics of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. India and Taiwan share an interest in containing Chinese power. The Taiwanese presence in Somaliland and UAE`s facilities along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden including Berbera could be leveraged for keeping a close watch on the Chinese activities in the region. 
 
The entire region lying between the Suez Canal and Japan is seeing an expanding Indian maritime footprint. The growing interest in the region is demonstrated by regularly deploying warships for conducting naval exercises with friendly countries and for carrying out defence diplomacy. As a result, the Indian navy is indicating that Western Pacific and the Red Sea are emerging as integral parts of its strategic dynamics. The naval exercises with Egyptian and Sudanese navies demonstrate the expanding strategic maritime horizons and underscore the growing salience of the Red Sea in India`s security matrix.

On September 10, the Indian navy carried out a maritime partnership exercise with the Sudanese navy in the Red Sea. Despite building a strong energy partnership in the 2000s, it was the first time that Indian and Sudanese navies conducted such an exercise.

On September 10, the Indian navy carried out a maritime partnership exercise with the Sudanese navy in the Red Sea. Despite building a strong energy partnership in the 2000s, it was the first time that Indian and Sudanese navies conducted such an exercise. From the Indian side, INS Tabar participated in the exercise along with the Sudanese ships Almazz and Nimar. IN PICS| SIMBEX: India-Singapore naval drill in South China Sea The exercise included `multiple activities covering a wide range of naval operations such as `co-ordinated manoeuvring, replenishment at sea [RAS] drills, helo operations, operations for interdicting suspect vessels at sea and communication procedures.` The exercise `enhanced interoperability between the two navies significantly and widened the scope for combined operations against common maritime threats in future.` INS Tabar is on an overseas deployment to Europe and Africa. Apart from Sudan, it has also conducted naval exercises with the Egyptian navy in the Mediterranean. Egypt and Sudan are important players in the geopolitics of the Red Sea and due to their proximity with the Suez Canal, are located along one of the most important maritime routes. Therefore, both of these exercises are of significant strategic import and point towards the expanding maritime horizons of the Indian navy. Red Sea Geopolitics The Red Sea links West Asia with Africa and is a critical geopolitical space where the rivalries between the Gulf powers are being played out. The Red Sea also links the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean through the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb and Suez Canal. Large quantities of oil and trade pass through the Red Sea. It is a critical waterway for global energy security and the international economy. The recent blockage of the Suez Canal underscored the strategically important role of the Red Sea and Suez Canal for the global economy. In the last few years, the Red Sea has emerged as a critical sub-theatre in the evolving geopolitics of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). Foreign powers have established their military presence in the region and are taking a greater interest in the affairs of the maritime as well as continental space in and around the Red Sea. Russia, China, the United States (US), France, and Japan hold military facilities in the region. Even the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia are active in shaping the trajectory of regional geopolitics and security. In fact, the presence of security threats such as terrorism and maritime piracy brought foreign powers to the region. US established its expansive network of bases in the WIO and Africa including at Djibouti after launching the Global War on Terror. Maritime piracy in the Gulf of Aden around 2007-08 was threatening global shipping and Somalia was unable to contain pirates operating out of its territorial waters. Therefore, a multinational maritime security effort was launched. The navies of major powers including Russia, China, Japan, and South Korea sent their warships to the region to participate in the anti-piracy operations. Indian Naval Presence The Indian navy too played a key role in the counter-piracy operations. India is a resident naval power with a willingness and desire to contribute towards the maintenance of regional security in the Indian Ocean including in the sub-theater of the Northwest Indian Ocean. Over the years, India has managed to regularize its maritime presence in the Gulf of Aden and Southwest Indian Ocean. Time and again, India has extended much-needed humanitarian assistance to the littoral states in the region. India has also positioned itself as the `preferred security partner` in the region. Indian navy is uniquely placed in the regional geopolitics of the Northwest Indian Ocean. It enjoys close relationship with the US, Japan, and France, and consequently, the Indian navy ships can access their naval bases in Djibouti. Russia`s upcoming naval base at Port Sudan also opens up opportunities for greater collaboration between Indian and Russian navies in the Red Sea and WIO. India`s deepening strategic partnership with UAE could be strengthened further in the domain of maritime security in the context of the geopolitics of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. India and Taiwan share an interest in containing Chinese power. The Taiwanese presence in Somaliland and UAE`s facilities along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden including Berbera could be leveraged for keeping a close watch on the Chinese activities in the region. The entire region lying between the Suez Canal and Japan is seeing an expanding Indian maritime footprint. The growing interest in the region is demonstrated by regularly deploying warships for conducting naval exercises with friendly countries and for carrying out defence diplomacy. As a result, the Indian navy is indicating that Western Pacific and the Red Sea are emerging as integral parts of its strategic dynamics. The naval exercises with Egyptian and Sudanese navies demonstrate the expanding strategic maritime horizons and underscore the growing salience of the Red Sea in India`s security matrix.

Indian Navy holds exercises in the Red Sea, not far from the Suez Canal

India is set to launch its first ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship INS Dhruv on Friday, said a report. It is a 10,000 tonne vessel and it will be commissioned from southern Indian port of Visakhapatnam.

As per a report in Hindustan Times, the ship is to be launched in the presence of senior officials of Indian Navy, National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)&nbsp;

INS Dhruv will be the latest weapon in Indian Navy's arsenal. It has been built by Hindustan Shipyard along with DRDO and NTRO.

Dhruv will be Indian Navy's first ship capable of tracking nuclear missiles even at long range. Moreover, INS Dhruv will also have capability to map ocean beds for research as well as detection of enemy submarines.

The ship's capabilities mean that India will be able to gauge the true missile capability of the enemy when it tests their ballistic missile.

China has moved to a 'sea-based military doctrine' and inclusion of INS Dhruv gives Indian Navy capability to better strategise in all domains of naval warfare.

India is set to launch its first ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship INS Dhruv on Friday, said a report. It is a 10,000 tonne vessel and it will be commissioned from southern Indian port of Visakhapatnam.

India is set to launch its first ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship INS Dhruv on Friday, said a report. It is a 10,000 tonne vessel and it will be commissioned from southern Indian port of Visakhapatnam. As per a report in Hindustan Times, the ship is to be launched in the presence of senior officials of Indian Navy, National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) INS Dhruv will be the latest weapon in Indian Navy's arsenal. It has been built by Hindustan Shipyard along with DRDO and NTRO. Dhruv will be Indian Navy's first ship capable of tracking nuclear missiles even at long range. Moreover, INS Dhruv will also have capability to map ocean beds for research as well as detection of enemy submarines. The ship's capabilities mean that India will be able to gauge the true missile capability of the enemy when it tests their ballistic missile. China has moved to a 'sea-based military doctrine' and inclusion of INS Dhruv gives Indian Navy capability to better strategise in all domains of naval warfare.

INS Dhruv: India all set to launch nuclear missile tracking ship

India delivered 100 metric tons of liquid medical oxygen and 300 oxygen containers to Vietnam on Monday to help the country fight the coronavirus infection, officials said.

The supplies were transported to the Ho Chi Minh City port by Indian Navy ship INS Airavat.

"INS Airavat reaches Vietnam with Oxygen supplies. Indo-Pacific approach in practice," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted.

Indian Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said the ship, carrying 100 metric tons of liquid medical oxygen in five containers and 300 oxygen concentrators, reached the Ho Chi Minh City port on Monday.

He said the medical supplies were sent in accordance with the requirements projected by the Vietnamese government.

Last week, INS Airavat delivered medical supplies to Indonesia.

"As part of India's vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the region and has been at the forefront of numerous humanitarian missions spanning the entire extent of the Indian Ocean," the official said.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-hands-over-vietnam-first-high-speed-boat-under-100-million-defense-credit-line-351429">&nbsp;India hands over Vietnam first high-speed boat under $100 million defense credit line</a>

The ties between India and Vietnam are on an upswing, particularly in the areas of defence and security.

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Vietnamese counterpart Sr Lt Gen Phan Van Giang held extensive talks virtually last month during which they vowed to further enhance military-to-military cooperation.

Vietnam, an important country of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), has territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea region.

India has oil exploration projects in the Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spreads-through-air-vietnam-reports-new-variant-of-coronavirus-388243">'Spreads through air': Vietnam reports new variant of coronavirus</a>

"The two navies cooperate in various areas, including a composite training programme in the fields of submarine, aviation and technical training, and regularly carry out joint naval exercises in the form of bilateral exercises," Commander Madhwal said.

"The current deployment of the ship aims to further strengthen the strategic relationship," he added.&nbsp;

India delivered 100 metric tons of liquid medical oxygen and 300 oxygen containers to Vietnam on Monday to help the country fight the coronavirus infection, officials said.

India delivered 100 metric tons of liquid medical oxygen and 300 oxygen containers to Vietnam on Monday to help the country fight the coronavirus infection, officials said. The supplies were transported to the Ho Chi Minh City port by Indian Navy ship INS Airavat. "INS Airavat reaches Vietnam with Oxygen supplies. Indo-Pacific approach in practice," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted. Indian Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said the ship, carrying 100 metric tons of liquid medical oxygen in five containers and 300 oxygen concentrators, reached the Ho Chi Minh City port on Monday. He said the medical supplies were sent in accordance with the requirements projected by the Vietnamese government. Last week, INS Airavat delivered medical supplies to Indonesia. "As part of India's vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the region and has been at the forefront of numerous humanitarian missions spanning the entire extent of the Indian Ocean," the official said. Also read | India hands over Vietnam first high-speed boat under $100 million defense credit line The ties between India and Vietnam are on an upswing, particularly in the areas of defence and security. India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Vietnamese counterpart Sr Lt Gen Phan Van Giang held extensive talks virtually last month during which they vowed to further enhance military-to-military cooperation. Vietnam, an important country of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), has territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea region. India has oil exploration projects in the Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea. Also read | 'Spreads through air': Vietnam reports new variant of coronavirus "The two navies cooperate in various areas, including a composite training programme in the fields of submarine, aviation and technical training, and regularly carry out joint naval exercises in the form of bilateral exercises," Commander Madhwal said. "The current deployment of the ship aims to further strengthen the strategic relationship," he added.

India provides medical supplies to Vietnam

India is flexing its maritime muscles to counter growing Chinese influence, conducting sea trials on its first indigenous aircraft carrier and dispatching a task force for joint exercises with the United States and other allies.

The INS Vikrant, which began trials off the southern state of Kerala on Wednesday, will be India's second aircraft carrier in operation.

The Indian Navy said the country can now "join a select group of nations with the capability to indigenously design and build an Aircraft Carrier, which will be a real testimony to the 'Make in India' thrust of the Indian Government."

The new 262-metre (860-foot) carrier joins the INS Vikramaditya, the Soviet-made Admiral Gorshkov that India bought in 2004.

The navy said 44 other ships and submarines were being built indigenously. It is also pressing the government for a third carrier, with Navy chief Admiral&nbsp;Karambir Singh saying the force could not remain "tethered".

China, vying for influence in the Indian Ocean where New Delhi has traditionally held sway, is currently building its third aircraft carrier.

The Indian Navy said separately on Monday that it was sending a task force of four ships to South East Asia, the South China Sea and Western Pacific for two months of exercises including with Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Australia and the United States.

The deployment "seeks to underscore the operational reach, peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly countries towards ensuring good order in the maritime domain and to strengthen existing bonds between India and countries of the Indo Pacific," it said.

India, Japan, Australia and the US together form the "Quad" alliance seen as a bulwark against China.&nbsp;

Last year, 20 Indian troops died in a clash on their disputed Himalayan border with China.

This year, India has also conducted naval exercises with France and most recently with a British task force in the Bay of Bengal last month led by the new HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier.

This week, broadcaster Al Jazeera reported that India may be building a naval facility in the Mauritius archipelago, citing satellite imagery, financial data and on-the-ground evidence.

Mauritius on Wednesday said that although work was underway on an air strip and a jetty on the island of Agalega, they would not be used for military purposes.

India is flexing its maritime muscles to counter growing Chinese influence, conducting sea trials on its first indigenous aircraft carrier and dispatching a task force for joint exercises with the United States and other allies.

India is flexing its maritime muscles to counter growing Chinese influence, conducting sea trials on its first indigenous aircraft carrier and dispatching a task force for joint exercises with the United States and other allies. The INS Vikrant, which began trials off the southern state of Kerala on Wednesday, will be India's second aircraft carrier in operation. The Indian Navy said the country can now "join a select group of nations with the capability to indigenously design and build an Aircraft Carrier, which will be a real testimony to the 'Make in India' thrust of the Indian Government." The new 262-metre (860-foot) carrier joins the INS Vikramaditya, the Soviet-made Admiral Gorshkov that India bought in 2004. The navy said 44 other ships and submarines were being built indigenously. It is also pressing the government for a third carrier, with Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh saying the force could not remain "tethered". China, vying for influence in the Indian Ocean where New Delhi has traditionally held sway, is currently building its third aircraft carrier. The Indian Navy said separately on Monday that it was sending a task force of four ships to South East Asia, the South China Sea and Western Pacific for two months of exercises including with Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Australia and the United States. The deployment "seeks to underscore the operational reach, peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly countries towards ensuring good order in the maritime domain and to strengthen existing bonds between India and countries of the Indo Pacific," it said. India, Japan, Australia and the US together form the "Quad" alliance seen as a bulwark against China. Last year, 20 Indian troops died in a clash on their disputed Himalayan border with China. This year, India has also conducted naval exercises with France and most recently with a British task force in the Bay of Bengal last month led by the new HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier. This week, broadcaster Al Jazeera reported that India may be building a naval facility in the Mauritius archipelago, citing satellite imagery, financial data and on-the-ground evidence. Mauritius on Wednesday said that although work was underway on an air strip and a jetty on the island of Agalega, they would not be used for military purposes.

Eye on China, India flexes muscles with new aircraft carrier, task force

In a major restructuring like reorganising Indian Military into Theatre Commands, there will be variation of views between stakeholders and many rounds of discussions on merits and demerits of the existing force structure vis-a-vis the proposed one; hence it may not be appropriate to call it a ‘turf war’ as has been referred in some media reports.

Is the Timing Right?

Today, India is facing a ‘Two Front Threat’ in real terms, in a manner that it is already in standoff with the largest military in the world, and the other adversary is also devising new ways to disturb peace through drones/terror attacks. Irrespective of merits and demerits of theaterisation, strategically, it is not the right time to go through such a major apex level restructuring, when the largest military force is knocking at Line of Actual Control. Such major restructuring takes at least few years of teething problems; hence it will bring turbulence in time tested command structure during the intervening period, a risk which the country must avoid. In an overdrive to minimise cost of defence, or meet certain personality oriented deadlines, the restructuring should not compromise operational effectiveness of Indian Military. &nbsp;

What needs to be restructured?&nbsp;

Regarding implementation of Indian model of Theatre Commands, I endorse Air Defence Command, Defence Space Agency (DSA), Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD), integration in logistics and recommend up-gradation of Defence Cyber Agency (DCA) to “Information Warfare Command” as explained in my detailed analysis. &nbsp; 
The critical shortage of air and other assets is a concern, too serious to be overlooked. The Maritime Command accruing advantage of unity of command, will have to be weighed against manageability of increased span of control, as Indian definition of Indo-Pacific and area of maritime interest has grown from eastern coasts of Africa to northern Pacific, up to Japan. With tri-service structure, reporting to single Service Chief has its own &nbsp;problems. Reporting to CDS may be difficult for him to manage them in operations, (unmanageable span of control), and he not being tasked and organised for it. The first priority of India should be to do capability development over restructuring of apex level restructuring.

The Air Power Debate!

The Indian Air Force is an offensive component of Indian Military. It has national role besides synergising with other services to contribute to national combat power. For comprehensive air battle, with inadequate air resources, switching assets between operational commands of same service is much more effective than trying to do so between integrated theatre commands with dedicated resources, through CDS/ COSC Committee System.&nbsp;

It also needs to be noted that with the current speed of fighter aircrafts and high intensity of lethal air defence systems, globally, the close air support role is being performed better by attack helicopters and variety of artillery assets due to safety concerns. New generation aircrafts are mostly multi-role, increasingly employed for long and short-range interdiction, creating favourable air situation, degradation, offensive air missions and strategic national missions.&nbsp;

Indianised Model&nbsp;

US and China have laid down expeditionary role for their military away from mainland; hence their theatre commands like Indo-Pacific Command can’t be supported from air assets from mainland, which justifies separate allocation of air assets.&nbsp;

Both these countries have done so after reaching self-reliance in defence production. In case of India, expeditionary role doesn’t hold good for considerable period, when it finds raising of much needed mountain strike corps to threaten immediate adversary too costly. India must first bring up its asset availability up to a point that they can be distributed as first priority, with indigenous technology and hardware by self-reliance, which is a work in progress.&nbsp;

Everyone needs focus on capacity building at this time under discernible ‘Two Front Threat’, rather than igniting debates on apex level Restructuring, which doesn’t improve combat capability very much at cutting edge, where we need more military assets like aircrafts and drones.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

In a major restructuring like reorganising Indian Military into Theatre Commands, there will be variation of views between stakeholders and many rounds of discussions on merits and demerits of the existing force structure vis-a-vis the proposed one; hence it may not be appropriate to call it a ‘turf war’ as has been referred in some media reports.

In a major restructuring like reorganising Indian Military into Theatre Commands, there will be variation of views between stakeholders and many rounds of discussions on merits and demerits of the existing force structure vis-a-vis the proposed one; hence it may not be appropriate to call it a ‘turf war’ as has been referred in some media reports. Is the Timing Right? Today, India is facing a ‘Two Front Threat’ in real terms, in a manner that it is already in standoff with the largest military in the world, and the other adversary is also devising new ways to disturb peace through drones/terror attacks. Irrespective of merits and demerits of theaterisation, strategically, it is not the right time to go through such a major apex level restructuring, when the largest military force is knocking at Line of Actual Control. Such major restructuring takes at least few years of teething problems; hence it will bring turbulence in time tested command structure during the intervening period, a risk which the country must avoid. In an overdrive to minimise cost of defence, or meet certain personality oriented deadlines, the restructuring should not compromise operational effectiveness of Indian Military. What needs to be restructured? Regarding implementation of Indian model of Theatre Commands, I endorse Air Defence Command, Defence Space Agency (DSA), Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD), integration in logistics and recommend up-gradation of Defence Cyber Agency (DCA) to “Information Warfare Command” as explained in my detailed analysis. The critical shortage of air and other assets is a concern, too serious to be overlooked. The Maritime Command accruing advantage of unity of command, will have to be weighed against manageability of increased span of control, as Indian definition of Indo-Pacific and area of maritime interest has grown from eastern coasts of Africa to northern Pacific, up to Japan. With tri-service structure, reporting to single Service Chief has its own problems. Reporting to CDS may be difficult for him to manage them in operations, (unmanageable span of control), and he not being tasked and organised for it. The first priority of India should be to do capability development over restructuring of apex level restructuring. The Air Power Debate! The Indian Air Force is an offensive component of Indian Military. It has national role besides synergising with other services to contribute to national combat power. For comprehensive air battle, with inadequate air resources, switching assets between operational commands of same service is much more effective than trying to do so between integrated theatre commands with dedicated resources, through CDS/ COSC Committee System. It also needs to be noted that with the current speed of fighter aircrafts and high intensity of lethal air defence systems, globally, the close air support role is being performed better by attack helicopters and variety of artillery assets due to safety concerns. New generation aircrafts are mostly multi-role, increasingly employed for long and short-range interdiction, creating favourable air situation, degradation, offensive air missions and strategic national missions. Indianised Model US and China have laid down expeditionary role for their military away from mainland; hence their theatre commands like Indo-Pacific Command can’t be supported from air assets from mainland, which justifies separate allocation of air assets. Both these countries have done so after reaching self-reliance in defence production. In case of India, expeditionary role doesn’t hold good for considerable period, when it finds raising of much needed mountain strike corps to threaten immediate adversary too costly. India must first bring up its asset availability up to a point that they can be distributed as first priority, with indigenous technology and hardware by self-reliance, which is a work in progress. Everyone needs focus on capacity building at this time under discernible ‘Two Front Threat’, rather than igniting debates on apex level Restructuring, which doesn’t improve combat capability very much at cutting edge, where we need more military assets like aircrafts and drones. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion | Theatre Commands: Is India on right path, at right time? 

Indian Navy's INS Kiltan conducted a military drill with a South Korean vessel in the East China Sea, reports said.

INS Kiltan, an ingeniously&nbsp;built ship deployed in the far east took part in the exercise with South Korea's Daegu-class frigate ROKS Gyeongnam.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BridgesofFriendship?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BridgesofFriendship</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianNavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianNavy</a>'s indigenous ASW Corvette <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INSKiltan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INSKiltan</a> deployed in the Far East undertook <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NavyPartnership?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NavyPartnership</a> Exercise in the East China Sea with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepublicofKorea?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepublicofKorea</a> Navy Ship ROKS Gyeongnam, a Daegu-class frigate on 28 Jun (1/2).<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaritimeCooperation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaritimeCooperation</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Interoperability?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Interoperability</a> <a href="https://t.co/0QLBN5Dn5y">pic.twitter.com/0QLBN5Dn5y</a>
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) <a href="https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1409531062695305221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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A spokesperson of the Indian Navy informed the exercise took place on June 28 which was conducted with an aim to enhance interoperability and facilitating the exchange of best practices between the two navies.

The latest manoeuvre comes amid tension between Japan and China in the East China Sea due to increased maritime activity of the Chinese navy in the area.

Last week, Japan had said two Chinese coast guard ships had entered the Japanese administered island of Senkaku islands in the East China Sea.

The Okinawa Prefecture islands are claimed by China which calls it Diaoyu. Chinese ships&nbsp;have&nbsp;reportedly entered the Japanese waters several times in April and May leading to tensions between the two countries.

Japanese defence minister Nobuo Kishi had said the move by the Chinese coast guard ships was "unacceptable" while asserting that the country will take all measures for "monitoring and intelligence gathering".

Japan claims the Senkaku islands belong to it, however, China has staked its claim on it for the past several years leading to increased tensions between the two countries.&nbsp;

Indian Navy's INS Kiltan conducted a military drill with a South Korean vessel in the East China Sea, reports said. INS Kiltan, an ingeniously built ship deployed in the far east took part in the exercise with South Korea's Daegu-class frigate ROKS Gyeongnam.

Indian Navy's INS Kiltan conducted a military drill with a South Korean vessel in the East China Sea, reports said. INS Kiltan, an ingeniously built ship deployed in the far east took part in the exercise with South Korea's Daegu-class frigate ROKS Gyeongnam. #BridgesofFriendship#IndianNavy's indigenous ASW Corvette #INSKiltan deployed in the Far East undertook #NavyPartnership Exercise in the East China Sea with #RepublicofKorea Navy Ship ROKS Gyeongnam, a Daegu-class frigate on 28 Jun (1/2).#MaritimeCooperation#Interoperability pic.twitter.com/0QLBN5Dn5y — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) June 28, 2021 × A spokesperson of the Indian Navy informed the exercise took place on June 28 which was conducted with an aim to enhance interoperability and facilitating the exchange of best practices between the two navies. The latest manoeuvre comes amid tension between Japan and China in the East China Sea due to increased maritime activity of the Chinese navy in the area. Last week, Japan had said two Chinese coast guard ships had entered the Japanese administered island of Senkaku islands in the East China Sea. The Okinawa Prefecture islands are claimed by China which calls it Diaoyu. Chinese ships have reportedly entered the Japanese waters several times in April and May leading to tensions between the two countries. Japanese defence minister Nobuo Kishi had said the move by the Chinese coast guard ships was "unacceptable" while asserting that the country will take all measures for "monitoring and intelligence gathering". Japan claims the Senkaku islands belong to it, however, China has staked its claim on it for the past several years leading to increased tensions between the two countries.

Indian Navy takes part in military exercise with South Korean ship in East China Sea

Why IAF's Jaguars, Su-30 fighters will exercise with Carrier Strike Group USS Ronald Reagan

The Defence Ministry on Friday cleared a mega project to build six conventional submarines for the Indian Navy at a cost of around Rs 43,000 crore, a decision aimed at narrowing the gap with the growing naval prowess of China, government sources said.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The DAC is the Defence Ministry's highest decision-making body on procurement.

The sources said the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Make-in-India project named 'P-75 India' will be issued soon.

The sources said the groundwork like specifications of the submarines and other critical requirements for issuance of the RFP for the mega project has been completed by separate teams of the Defence Ministry and the Indian Navy.

The Defence Ministry on Friday cleared a mega project to build six conventional submarines for the Indian Navy at a cost of around Rs 43,000 crore, a decision aimed at narrowing the gap with the growing naval prowess of China, government sources said.

The Defence Ministry on Friday cleared a mega project to build six conventional submarines for the Indian Navy at a cost of around Rs 43,000 crore, a decision aimed at narrowing the gap with the growing naval prowess of China, government sources said. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The DAC is the Defence Ministry's highest decision-making body on procurement. The sources said the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Make-in-India project named 'P-75 India' will be issued soon. The sources said the groundwork like specifications of the submarines and other critical requirements for issuance of the RFP for the mega project has been completed by separate teams of the Defence Ministry and the Indian Navy.

Defence ministry approves construction of six advanced submarines for Indian Navy

Seven teams of the Indian Navy have remained at the forefront of relief activities that are being conducted in West Bengal after cyclone Yaas hit the state's coastal areas on the morning of May 26, the defence ministry said on Thursday.

"The seven teams comprising two diving and five flood relief teams (FRT) have remained at the forefront of relief activities," the ministry's statement noted.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rising-temperatures-in-indian-ocean-increasing-intensity-of-cyclones-say-scientists-387791">Rising temperatures in Indian Ocean increasing intensity of cyclones, say scientists</a>

Cyclone Yaas pounded parts of India's eastern coast on Wednesday, killing at least four people and forcing more than 21 lakh people to be evacuated to safe shelters in West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.

The relief control centre at Indian naval ship Netaji Subhas, in coordination with the West Bengal government, have concentrated their relief and rescue operations in Digha and Fraserganj, the two highly inundated low-lying coastal areas since the landfall of cyclone Yaas on May 26 morning.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cyclone-yaas-kills-at-least-5-people-indian-navy-teams-undertake-relief-operations-387757/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Indian Navy's team at Fraserganj was deployed on Wednesday morning to Narayanpur village, about 30km away, for rescue and relief operations despite heavy rains and inclement weather, the defence ministry said.

The Navy's team at Digha operated in villages in the vicinity of Digha and undertook road clearing operations and distributed aid to the needy, it mentioned.&nbsp;

Seven teams of the Indian Navy have remained at the forefront of relief activities that are being conducted in West Bengal after cyclone Yaas hit the state's coastal areas on the morning of May 26, the defence ministry said on Thursday.

Seven teams of the Indian Navy have remained at the forefront of relief activities that are being conducted in West Bengal after cyclone Yaas hit the state's coastal areas on the morning of May 26, the defence ministry said on Thursday. "The seven teams comprising two diving and five flood relief teams (FRT) have remained at the forefront of relief activities," the ministry's statement noted. Also Read | Rising temperatures in Indian Ocean increasing intensity of cyclones, say scientists Cyclone Yaas pounded parts of India's eastern coast on Wednesday, killing at least four people and forcing more than 21 lakh people to be evacuated to safe shelters in West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand. The relief control centre at Indian naval ship Netaji Subhas, in coordination with the West Bengal government, have concentrated their relief and rescue operations in Digha and Fraserganj, the two highly inundated low-lying coastal areas since the landfall of cyclone Yaas on May 26 morning. The Indian Navy's team at Fraserganj was deployed on Wednesday morning to Narayanpur village, about 30km away, for rescue and relief operations despite heavy rains and inclement weather, the defence ministry said. The Navy's team at Digha operated in villages in the vicinity of Digha and undertook road clearing operations and distributed aid to the needy, it mentioned.

Cyclone Yaas: Indian Navy's 7 teams have remained at forefront of relief activities in West Bengal

Gone are the days when battles dragged on for years. Now battles are instant. It's all about striking swiftly and stealthily. And to do this, you need instant decision making and state-of-the-art weaponry.

How does the chain of command work in India? Is there scope for improvement? And what about our weapons? Can they keep up with the rest of the world?

India's defence is split into three services: the Air Force, the Navy and the Army. They have their own headquarters, bases and leadership. It's been this way for decades.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-indias-plan-for-joint-commands-386620">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-indias-plan-for-joint-commands-386620/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

But this system has drawbacks. There is a lot of duplication of work and unnecessary bureaucracy.

For example, Indian airspace is defended by all three services. They are tracking threats on separate frequencies with their own radars.

But every army headquarters is located next to an airbase. So two agencies are doing the same work sitting right next to each other. Talk about the wastage of resources and manpower.

If Army, during a combing operation, wants some air support, the in-charge calls up the Air Force.

The Air Force will then churn this request through its ranks. The problem here is clear. The person in charge of the operation does not have complete control over the assets.

This was the story every time India went to war. The Air Force had its own plan. And the Army was doing its own thing.

But modern war machines cannot function like this. And India is realising it. The defence establishment is moving towards what is called "theaterisation". This is how the US and China organise their forces.

In India, there's a talk of five commands - the northern command to deal with China, the western command on the Pakistan side,&nbsp;&nbsp;peninsula command in southern India, a&nbsp;maritime command to patrol the seas and an air defence command to protect the airspace.

So how is this different from the current set-up? The commands are unified establishments. This means the army the navy and the air force will function together under one command. No more shuttling between agencies for orders. All three services will answer to a single commander. In military circles they call this jointness and integration.

India cannot underestimate the&nbsp;mindset problem. The three services are used to autonomy. Both the air force and navy fear the army will dominate joint commands. This could lead to a turf war, a territorial battle for assets, funds and for influence.

The other big challenge is logistics. If you appoint a commander what happens to the chiefs of staff? Do the soldiers still report to them? Or will commanders take over operational control?

Same is the thing with assets. The air force only has 31 squadrons. Can they spread their assets wide enough to support every command? These are some of the big challenges to joint theatres.

The US has a tried and tested system.

But India cannot copy it. India's tri-service chief has ruled this out. Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat says India will develop its own system of joint theatres.

The military is tight-lipped about the plans. But reports say they should be operational by next year. Hopefully, this will solve the bottlenecks in decision making.

An army is only as good as the weapons it has. This is where India has struggled in the past with outdated weapons aircraft and ships. The only way to overhaul this is through defence spending. Now on paper, India is the third largest spender in the world behind the US and China.

A break-up of India's defence budget shows that&nbsp;50 per cent of the funds go to salaries and pensions. So at the start of every month, half the money is already gone. Where does that leave India's modernisation plans? These are figures from this year's budget. The total allocation was 4.78 trillion rupees.

After pensions, salaries and other expenses, 1.35 trillion rupees were left. Just 28 per cent of the total budget.

For a country with two belligerent neighbours, this is simply inadequate.

What are India's options?

One is to keep expanding the defence bill. But as this pandemic has shown, India needs to put more money in public health and infrastructure. So a big defence bill could be highly unpopular.

What about reforming pensions? Maybe extend the retirement age of officers? Every time someone suggests this, there is backlash from veterans. And the situation isn't getting any better. We need active deployments in the east and west. Which means more soldiers more salaries and more pensions. Where will the money come from?

A viable option is to trim the loose ends. Streamline acquisitions, cut down on duplication of work.

Right now, every service has its own wishlist. There is no synergy between them on acquisitions. The goal is to get them all together so that India's defence establishment has one wishlist not three.

All of this is easier said than done. The bureaucrats are sure to oppose a unified command. They hate being sidelined. Also, we need to be ready for squabbles between generals, admirals and air marshals.

But these worries shouldn't concern India much because unification of command is like a rebirth for the military. Every big power has gone through it and and they are better off with the new system.

Gone are the days when battles dragged on for years. Now battles are instant. It's all about striking swiftly and stealthily. And to do this, you need instant decision making and state-of-the-art weaponry.

Gone are the days when battles dragged on for years. Now battles are instant. It's all about striking swiftly and stealthily. And to do this, you need instant decision making and state-of-the-art weaponry. How does the chain of command work in India? Is there scope for improvement? And what about our weapons? Can they keep up with the rest of the world? India's defence is split into three services: the Air Force, the Navy and the Army. They have their own headquarters, bases and leadership. It's been this way for decades. Watch | But this system has drawbacks. There is a lot of duplication of work and unnecessary bureaucracy. For example, Indian airspace is defended by all three services. They are tracking threats on separate frequencies with their own radars. But every army headquarters is located next to an airbase. So two agencies are doing the same work sitting right next to each other. Talk about the wastage of resources and manpower. If Army, during a combing operation, wants some air support, the in-charge calls up the Air Force. The Air Force will then churn this request through its ranks. The problem here is clear. The person in charge of the operation does not have complete control over the assets. This was the story every time India went to war. The Air Force had its own plan. And the Army was doing its own thing. But modern war machines cannot function like this. And India is realising it. The defence establishment is moving towards what is called "theaterisation". This is how the US and China organise their forces. In India, there's a talk of five commands - the northern command to deal with China, the western command on the Pakistan side, peninsula command in southern India, a maritime command to patrol the seas and an air defence command to protect the airspace. So how is this different from the current set-up? The commands are unified establishments. This means the army the navy and the air force will function together under one command. No more shuttling between agencies for orders. All three services will answer to a single commander. In military circles they call this jointness and integration. India cannot underestimate the mindset problem. The three services are used to autonomy. Both the air force and navy fear the army will dominate joint commands. This could lead to a turf war, a territorial battle for assets, funds and for influence. The other big challenge is logistics. If you appoint a commander what happens to the chiefs of staff? Do the soldiers still report to them? Or will commanders take over operational control? Same is the thing with assets. The air force only has 31 squadrons. Can they spread their assets wide enough to support every command? These are some of the big challenges to joint theatres. The US has a tried and tested system. But India cannot copy it. India's tri-service chief has ruled this out. Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat says India will develop its own system of joint theatres. The military is tight-lipped about the plans. But reports say they should be operational by next year. Hopefully, this will solve the bottlenecks in decision making. An army is only as good as the weapons it has. This is where India has struggled in the past with outdated weapons aircraft and ships. The only way to overhaul this is through defence spending. Now on paper, India is the third largest spender in the world behind the US and China. A break-up of India's defence budget shows that 50 per cent of the funds go to salaries and pensions. So at the start of every month, half the money is already gone. Where does that leave India's modernisation plans? These are figures from this year's budget. The total allocation was 4.78 trillion rupees. After pensions, salaries and other expenses, 1.35 trillion rupees were left. Just 28 per cent of the total budget. For a country with two belligerent neighbours, this is simply inadequate. What are India's options? One is to keep expanding the defence bill. But as this pandemic has shown, India needs to put more money in public health and infrastructure. So a big defence bill could be highly unpopular. What about reforming pensions? Maybe extend the retirement age of officers? Every time someone suggests this, there is backlash from veterans. And the situation isn't getting any better. We need active deployments in the east and west. Which means more soldiers more salaries and more pensions. Where will the money come from? A viable option is to trim the loose ends. Streamline acquisitions, cut down on duplication of work. Right now, every service has its own wishlist. There is no synergy between them on acquisitions. The goal is to get them all together so that India's defence establishment has one wishlist not three. All of this is easier said than done. The bureaucrats are sure to oppose a unified command. They hate being sidelined. Also, we need to be ready for squabbles between generals, admirals and air marshals. But these worries shouldn't concern India much because unification of command is like a rebirth for the military. Every big power has gone through it and and they are better off with the new system.

India's defence forces aim at 'theaterisation' of command

Amidst the second wave of COVID-19, the Diving School of the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy has conceptualised and designed an Oxygen Recycling System (ORS) to alleviate the existing Oxygen shortages.

According to an official statement, the ORS has been designed by Lieutenant Commander Mayank Sharma of the Diving School. The system's design has been patented, and an application to this effect has been filed by the Indian Navy on May 13.

The Driving School has expertise in this area as the basic concept is used in some of the diving sets used by the school. Earlier, a similar idea on a miniaturised lab model was demonstrated to the Prime Minister during the Combined Commanders Conference at Kevadia on March 6.

According to a press release, the ORS is designed to extend the life of the existing medical oxygen cylinders two to four times, using the fact that only a small percentage of oxygen inhaled by a patient is actually absorbed by the lungs, the rest being exhaled into the atmosphere along with carbon dioxide produced by the body.

The first fully operational prototype of the ORS was produced on April 22 and underwent a series of in-house trials and design improvements at the Southern Naval Command, with third-party observers from ISO-certified firms.

Thereafter, on the directives of NITI Aayog, the system underwent detailed analysis and assessment by a team of specialists at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) at Thiruvananthapuram. The team of specialists at SCTIMST found the concept and design of the Oxygen Recycling System feasible, and also suggested a few additional modifications.

The overall cost of the ORS prototype has been capped at Rs. 10,000 against an envisaged saving of Rs 3,000 per day due to the recycling of O2. Besides substantially enhancing the existing oxygen capacity in the country, the ORS can also be used to extend the life of oxygen cylinders used by mountaineers/ soldiers at High Altitude, for HADR operations and onboard naval ships and submarines.

Amidst the second wave of COVID-19, the Diving School of the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy has conceptualised and designed an Oxygen Recycling System (ORS) to alleviate the existing Oxygen shortages.

Amidst the second wave of COVID-19, the Diving School of the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy has conceptualised and designed an Oxygen Recycling System (ORS) to alleviate the existing Oxygen shortages. According to an official statement, the ORS has been designed by Lieutenant Commander Mayank Sharma of the Diving School. The system's design has been patented, and an application to this effect has been filed by the Indian Navy on May 13. The Driving School has expertise in this area as the basic concept is used in some of the diving sets used by the school. Earlier, a similar idea on a miniaturised lab model was demonstrated to the Prime Minister during the Combined Commanders Conference at Kevadia on March 6. According to a press release, the ORS is designed to extend the life of the existing medical oxygen cylinders two to four times, using the fact that only a small percentage of oxygen inhaled by a patient is actually absorbed by the lungs, the rest being exhaled into the atmosphere along with carbon dioxide produced by the body. The first fully operational prototype of the ORS was produced on April 22 and underwent a series of in-house trials and design improvements at the Southern Naval Command, with third-party observers from ISO-certified firms. Thereafter, on the directives of NITI Aayog, the system underwent detailed analysis and assessment by a team of specialists at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) at Thiruvananthapuram. The team of specialists at SCTIMST found the concept and design of the Oxygen Recycling System feasible, and also suggested a few additional modifications. The overall cost of the ORS prototype has been capped at Rs. 10,000 against an envisaged saving of Rs 3,000 per day due to the recycling of O2. Besides substantially enhancing the existing oxygen capacity in the country, the ORS can also be used to extend the life of oxygen cylinders used by mountaineers/ soldiers at High Altitude, for HADR operations and onboard naval ships and submarines.

Indian Navy designs Oxygen Recycling System to mitigate current oxygen crisis

A total of 177 persons have been rescued from Barge P305 off Bombay High on Tuesday morning while 127 are still missing as the Search and Rescue (SAR) operations continued.

The Indian Navy, which has been conducting multiple search operations, said that one of the barges that sent out an emergency rescue call has sunk.&nbsp;

The vessel had 273 people on board, of which 146 were rescued till Tuesday morning. As many as 127 were still missing and the Navy authorities are actively involved in a search and rescue operation.

The colossal cyclone -- the biggest to hit the region in decades -- claimed lives in Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat as savage winds swept through flimsy homes and uprooted trees and electricity pylons.

Tens of thousands of people were evacuated while authorities in Mumbai shifted about 600 Covid-19 patients in field hospitals "to safer locations".

Tauktae made landfall in Gujarat late Monday as an "extremely severe cyclonic storm" packing gusts of up to 185 kilometres (115 miles) per hour, the Indian Meteorological Department said. It weakened to a "very severe cyclonic storm" by Tuesday morning.

The deadly weather system has exacerbated India's embattled response to a coronavirus surge that is killing at least 4,000 people daily, and pushing the health system to breaking point.

(With inputs from agencies)

A total of 177 persons have been rescued from Barge P305 off Bombay High on Tuesday morning while 127 are still missing as the Search and Rescue (SAR) operations continued.

A total of 177 persons have been rescued from Barge P305 off Bombay High on Tuesday morning while 127 are still missing as the Search and Rescue (SAR) operations continued. The Indian Navy, which has been conducting multiple search operations, said that one of the barges that sent out an emergency rescue call has sunk. The vessel had 273 people on board, of which 146 were rescued till Tuesday morning. As many as 127 were still missing and the Navy authorities are actively involved in a search and rescue operation. The colossal cyclone -- the biggest to hit the region in decades -- claimed lives in Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat as savage winds swept through flimsy homes and uprooted trees and electricity pylons. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated while authorities in Mumbai shifted about 600 Covid-19 patients in field hospitals "to safer locations". Tauktae made landfall in Gujarat late Monday as an "extremely severe cyclonic storm" packing gusts of up to 185 kilometres (115 miles) per hour, the Indian Meteorological Department said. It weakened to a "very severe cyclonic storm" by Tuesday morning. The deadly weather system has exacerbated India's embattled response to a coronavirus surge that is killing at least 4,000 people daily, and pushing the health system to breaking point. (With inputs from agencies)

Cyclone Tauktae: 127 missing after vessel sinks, says Indian Navy

India is perhaps facing the biggest humanitarian challenge after the Independence because of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> pandemic and the Indian Navy will collectively rise to confront the adversity facing the nation, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

In a message to Navy personnel, Admiral Singh said the Navy will step up its outreach in extending medical assistance as the pandemic is spreading to rural India and people residing in those areas are in need of help.

"This is an unprecedented situation for us. This is perhaps the biggest humanitarian challenge to the country to date since independence," he said.

"I think, possibly, there is no one among us, who doesn't have someone in the family, or someone very close to us, who has not been COVID positive, or hospitalised, or worse still, succumbed to the disease," the Navy chief said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/second-wave-in-india-death-toll-rises-as-active-cases-dip-384608">Second wave in India: Death toll rises as active cases dip</a>&nbsp;

The chief of naval staff said that the force has to contribute back to the nation with its "full might" in these "difficult times".

"No one knows when the pandemic will end. But I can say, with utmost confidence that our courage, our determination, will never end. We will collectively rise as 'Team Navy' in this adversity, and do our best for the nation, for the Navy and for our communities," Admiral Singh said.

"I am proud of what has been achieved in the last few weeks, especially by our healthcare teams and our operational units. I look forward to continuing this effort and supporting our country in these difficult times," he said.

The Navy chief said all the Navy teams are putting their shoulder to the wheel to support the national effort.

"At this time, I see two priorities for the Navy; first, to contribute fully to the national effort, and second, to protect our communities, our defence civilians, our ex-servicemen, and all their families in every way," he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-covid-crisis-international-assistance-delivered-at-aiims-safdarjung-lady-harding-itbp-drdo-383784">India covid crisis: International assistance delivered at AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lady Harding, ITBP, DRDO</a>

The Navy has been vigorously supporting civilian authorities in several states to deal with the fast-spreading coronavirus cases, including through setting up of dedicated health facilities to treat people with COVID-19.

The Navy has already launched a mega operation to bring liquid medical oxygen from several countries in Persian Gulf and south-east Asia.

"The pandemic is spreading to rural areas and they are in need of help. Our outlying units could adopt a village and render assistance just like INS Chilka has done," he said.

India is perhaps facing the biggest humanitarian challenge after the Independence because of the coronavirus pandemic and the Indian Navy will collectively rise to confront the adversity facing the nation, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh said on Wednesday.

India is perhaps facing the biggest humanitarian challenge after the Independence because of the coronavirus pandemic and the Indian Navy will collectively rise to confront the adversity facing the nation, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh said on Wednesday. In a message to Navy personnel, Admiral Singh said the Navy will step up its outreach in extending medical assistance as the pandemic is spreading to rural India and people residing in those areas are in need of help. "This is an unprecedented situation for us. This is perhaps the biggest humanitarian challenge to the country to date since independence," he said. "I think, possibly, there is no one among us, who doesn't have someone in the family, or someone very close to us, who has not been COVID positive, or hospitalised, or worse still, succumbed to the disease," the Navy chief said. Also read | Second wave in India: Death toll rises as active cases dip The chief of naval staff said that the force has to contribute back to the nation with its "full might" in these "difficult times". "No one knows when the pandemic will end. But I can say, with utmost confidence that our courage, our determination, will never end. We will collectively rise as 'Team Navy' in this adversity, and do our best for the nation, for the Navy and for our communities," Admiral Singh said. "I am proud of what has been achieved in the last few weeks, especially by our healthcare teams and our operational units. I look forward to continuing this effort and supporting our country in these difficult times," he said. The Navy chief said all the Navy teams are putting their shoulder to the wheel to support the national effort. "At this time, I see two priorities for the Navy; first, to contribute fully to the national effort, and second, to protect our communities, our defence civilians, our ex-servicemen, and all their families in every way," he said. Also read | India covid crisis: International assistance delivered at AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lady Harding, ITBP, DRDO The Navy has been vigorously supporting civilian authorities in several states to deal with the fast-spreading coronavirus cases, including through setting up of dedicated health facilities to treat people with COVID-19. The Navy has already launched a mega operation to bring liquid medical oxygen from several countries in Persian Gulf and south-east Asia. "The pandemic is spreading to rural areas and they are in need of help. Our outlying units could adopt a village and render assistance just like INS Chilka has done," he said.

Will contribute with 'full might' in difficult times: Navy chief on COVID-19

Indian Navy on Thursday pitched in to locate the missing Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala-402. The submarine went missing on Wednesday, 60 miles off the coast of Bali with 53 people on board.

Indian Navy has sent its Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), which departed from Visakhapatnam to support the Indonesian Navy in search and rescue efforts for KRI Nanggala.

Equipped with the latest technology and capabilities, DSRV has a Side Scan Sonar to locate the position of any submarine in distress. It can provide immediate relief by posting Emergency Life Support Containers with the help of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).

Indian Defence ‌Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with his Indonesian counterpart Gen Prabowo Subianto.

&nbsp;“I am extremely pained to hear about the missing Indonesian Submarine Nanggala with 53 crew on board. As a well wisher and a defence Minister myself I can feel the pain and anguish. At this point I would like to extend the full support of the Indian Armed Forces to the Indonesian Rescue effort,” Singh said, according to a release from the Indian Navy.

“I have also tasked the Indian Air Force to see the feasibility of induction of the DSRV intervention system by air. India is committed to assist our strategic partners during times of necessity. Please accept my concern and best wishes to a successful rescue,” he said.

Gen Subianto acknowledged and appreciated India’s support to Indonesia, the release said.

India is among the few countries in the world capable of undertaking Search and Rescue of a disabled submarine through a DSRV, the Navy release said.

Indian Navy’s DSRV system can locate a submarine upto 1,000 metre depth utilising its state-of-the art Side Scan Sonar (SSS) and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). After the submarine is successfully located, another sub module of DSRV- the Submarine Rescue Vehicle (SRV) - mates with the submarine to rescue the trapped personnel. The SRV can also be used to provide emergency supplies to the submarine.

Indian Navy and Indonesian Navy share a strong partnership of operational cooperation. The two navies have been exercising regularly in the past and have developed synergy and interoperability which is considered important for the present mission.

The Indian effort comes even as both countries have been engaging on several fronts from defence to maritime collaboration.&nbsp;

Indian Navy has been providing support in the region in several ways, including by providing medicine, food supplies amid the Covid pandemic. Under its Sagar missions 1, 2 and 3, it reached out to more than 10 countries in the Indian Ocean region, Africa and ASEAN with supplies to deal with the Covid crisis.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, other countries in the region, namely Singapore and Malaysia, have dispatched vessels to support Indonesia.&nbsp;

Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in a statement said, "The Republic of Singapore Navy’s MV Swift Rescue – our submarine rescue vessel – was dispatched expeditiously...as fast as she could get ready after our navy chief received a request for assistance from his Indonesian counterpart."

Indian Navy on Thursday pitched in to locate the missing Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala-402. The submarine went missing on Wednesday, 60 miles off the coast of Bali with 53 people on board.

Indian Navy on Thursday pitched in to locate the missing Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala-402. The submarine went missing on Wednesday, 60 miles off the coast of Bali with 53 people on board. Indian Navy has sent its Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), which departed from Visakhapatnam to support the Indonesian Navy in search and rescue efforts for KRI Nanggala. Equipped with the latest technology and capabilities, DSRV has a Side Scan Sonar to locate the position of any submarine in distress. It can provide immediate relief by posting Emergency Life Support Containers with the help of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Indian Defence ‌Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with his Indonesian counterpart Gen Prabowo Subianto. “I am extremely pained to hear about the missing Indonesian Submarine Nanggala with 53 crew on board. As a well wisher and a defence Minister myself I can feel the pain and anguish. At this point I would like to extend the full support of the Indian Armed Forces to the Indonesian Rescue effort,” Singh said, according to a release from the Indian Navy. “I have also tasked the Indian Air Force to see the feasibility of induction of the DSRV intervention system by air. India is committed to assist our strategic partners during times of necessity. Please accept my concern and best wishes to a successful rescue,” he said. Gen Subianto acknowledged and appreciated India’s support to Indonesia, the release said. India is among the few countries in the world capable of undertaking Search and Rescue of a disabled submarine through a DSRV, the Navy release said. Indian Navy’s DSRV system can locate a submarine upto 1,000 metre depth utilising its state-of-the art Side Scan Sonar (SSS) and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). After the submarine is successfully located, another sub module of DSRV- the Submarine Rescue Vehicle (SRV) - mates with the submarine to rescue the trapped personnel. The SRV can also be used to provide emergency supplies to the submarine. Indian Navy and Indonesian Navy share a strong partnership of operational cooperation. The two navies have been exercising regularly in the past and have developed synergy and interoperability which is considered important for the present mission. The Indian effort comes even as both countries have been engaging on several fronts from defence to maritime collaboration. Indian Navy has been providing support in the region in several ways, including by providing medicine, food supplies amid the Covid pandemic. Under its Sagar missions 1, 2 and 3, it reached out to more than 10 countries in the Indian Ocean region, Africa and ASEAN with supplies to deal with the Covid crisis. Meanwhile, other countries in the region, namely Singapore and Malaysia, have dispatched vessels to support Indonesia. Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in a statement said, "The Republic of Singapore Navy’s MV Swift Rescue – our submarine rescue vessel – was dispatched expeditiously...as fast as she could get ready after our navy chief received a request for assistance from his Indonesian counterpart."

Indian Navy pitches in to find missing Indonesian submarine

All of the Indian Navy's personnel have got the first dose of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus&nbsp;vaccine</a>, according to Navy officials.

The second dose of vaccine has been given to 70 per cent of personnel with progress being made rapidly. "Almost 100 per cent of Indian Navy personnel have got the first covid doses," Officials speaking to WION said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-world-struggle-with-covid-19-infections-and-concerns-are-endless-379345" hreflang="en">India, world struggle with COVID-19 infections and concerns are endless</a>

The focus has been to vaccinate navy personnel's depends, ex-service, defense civilians, and their families. So far vaccination centers of the navy across the country have vaccinated around 10,000 of the listed groups.

According to data shared by the defense ministry&nbsp;in the Indian Parliament earlier this year, 3,604 covid cases were reported in the navy. The force has reported two deaths due to covid — the lowest among the three services.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cumulative-vaccination-in-india-crosses-130-million-mark-379113" hreflang="en">Cumulative vaccination in India crosses 130 million mark</a>

Amid the second wave of the pandemic, the navy has identified spare capacity which will be extended to civil authorities. Navy medical personnel are already providing services at covid hospitals in New Delhi, Patna, and Muzzafarpur.&nbsp;

Navy ships and assets remain on standby to supply essentials such as medicines and oxygen to islands territories.

Last year, amid the first wave, navy establishments provided quarantine facilities. Not only domestically, but under its Mission Sagar 1,2&nbsp; and 3, the navy sent medicines, food, and other essential supplies to over 10 countries in the Indian Ocean region, Africa, and ASEAN to deal with the covid crisis.

All of the Indian Navy's personnel have got the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, according to Navy officials. The second dose of vaccine has been given to 70 per cent of personnel with progress being made rapidly.

All of the Indian Navy's personnel have got the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, according to Navy officials. The second dose of vaccine has been given to 70 per cent of personnel with progress being made rapidly. "Almost 100 per cent of Indian Navy personnel have got the first covid doses," Officials speaking to WION said. Also read | India, world struggle with COVID-19 infections and concerns are endless The focus has been to vaccinate navy personnel's depends, ex-service, defense civilians, and their families. So far vaccination centers of the navy across the country have vaccinated around 10,000 of the listed groups. According to data shared by the defense ministry in the Indian Parliament earlier this year, 3,604 covid cases were reported in the navy. The force has reported two deaths due to covid — the lowest among the three services. Also read | Cumulative vaccination in India crosses 130 million mark Amid the second wave of the pandemic, the navy has identified spare capacity which will be extended to civil authorities. Navy medical personnel are already providing services at covid hospitals in New Delhi, Patna, and Muzzafarpur. Navy ships and assets remain on standby to supply essentials such as medicines and oxygen to islands territories. Last year, amid the first wave, navy establishments provided quarantine facilities. Not only domestically, but under its Mission Sagar 1,2 and 3, the navy sent medicines, food, and other essential supplies to over 10 countries in the Indian Ocean region, Africa, and ASEAN to deal with the covid crisis.

First dose of covid vaccine given to all navy personnel: Officials

Even as India&nbsp; and France strengthen ties, Paris has agreed to join New Delhi's&nbsp;Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI).&nbsp;&nbsp;IPOI was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the East Asia Summit in November&nbsp;2019.

The development comes even as French Foreign minister&nbsp;Jean-Yves Le Drian is on an India visit. Earlier in the day, he met India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. He will also be going to&nbsp;Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) headquarters in&nbsp;Bengaluru.

Increasing trade connectivity, maritime transport and maritime security are among the seven key pillars of the initiative. Other five are maritime ecology, maritime resources, capacity building and resource sharing, disaster risk reduction and management, science, technology and academic cooperation.

India has been engaging with countries under IPOI. Many countries in the region have been invited for it.

Both India and France are increasing engagement, especially in defence and martime domain. French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will take part in India-France Varuna naval exercise.

Charles de Gaulle is the&nbsp;first French&nbsp;nuclear-powered&nbsp;surface vessel. The exercises will start from April 26th and take place off the coast of Oman (Western Indian Ocean).

The last edition of Varuna Exercises took place along the Goa coast in May&nbsp;2019.&nbsp;That was the 17th edition of this exercise.&nbsp; Earlier this month, India for the first time joined France-initiated La Pérouse exercises. The exercises saw coming together of naval ships of France and all four Quad countries-- India, US, Australia and Japan.

Even as India and France strengthen ties, Paris has agreed to join New Delhi's Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI). IPOI was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the East Asia Summit in November 2019.

Even as India and France strengthen ties, Paris has agreed to join New Delhi's Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI). IPOI was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the East Asia Summit in November 2019. The development comes even as French Foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is on an India visit. Earlier in the day, he met India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. He will also be going to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) headquarters in Bengaluru. Increasing trade connectivity, maritime transport and maritime security are among the seven key pillars of the initiative. Other five are maritime ecology, maritime resources, capacity building and resource sharing, disaster risk reduction and management, science, technology and academic cooperation. India has been engaging with countries under IPOI. Many countries in the region have been invited for it. Both India and France are increasing engagement, especially in defence and martime domain. French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will take part in India-France Varuna naval exercise. Charles de Gaulle is the first French nuclear-powered surface vessel. The exercises will start from April 26th and take place off the coast of Oman (Western Indian Ocean). The last edition of Varuna Exercises took place along the Goa coast in May 2019. That was the 17th edition of this exercise. Earlier this month, India for the first time joined France-initiated La Pérouse exercises. The exercises saw coming together of naval ships of France and all four Quad countries-- India, US, Australia and Japan.

France to join India's Indo-Pacific oceans initiative; aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to exercise with Indian Navy

Feeling nostalgic about the iconic song of his film, Shahrukh Khan shared&nbsp;his reaction to the viral tweet of US Navy members singing `Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera` at a dinner meeting between US Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Michael M Gilday and India`s Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

Taking it to Twitter, SRK wrote, "Thank u for sharing this sir. How lovely. Git all nostalgic about the time spent making this beautiful film and belief sung in the song. Thanx @AshGowariker @RonnieScrewvala @arrahman &amp; everyone who made it possible."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Thank u for sharing this sir. How lovely. Git all nostalgic about the time spent making this beautiful film and belief sung in the song. Thanx <a href="https://twitter.com/AshGowariker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AshGowariker</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RonnieScrewvala?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonnieScrewvala</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/arrahman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@arrahman</a> &amp; everyone who made it possible. <a href="https://t.co/rFRKcHTDCg">https://t.co/rFRKcHTDCg</a>
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamsrk/status/1376575116931293187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The video got viral on social media when Taranjit Singh Sandhu, shared a video to Twitter on Saturday, which sees the US Navy officers singing `Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera` from the film `Swades`.

He wrote, "This is a friendship bond that cannot be broken ever.` The song was originally composed and sung by AR Rehman for the 2004 film Swades.The clip shows a team of singers and musical instrument players from the US Navy band dressed in their uniforms as they present the song.The 1.5-minute video has garnered over 341k views on the microblogging site. The song from the 2004 movie Swades revolves around Mohan (played by Shah Rukh Khan), an Indian expatriate employed with NASA, who travels to his country to track down his beloved nanny, Kaveri. During his stay, he finds himself advocating for reform in a village.

The film accumulated many awards including 2 National Awards for `Best Male Playback Singer` to Udit Narayan for another iconic song `Yeh Taara Woh Taara` and for `Best Cinematography` to Mahesh Aney.

Two Filmfare awards for `Best Actor` to Shahrukh Khan and `Best Background Score` to A.R. Rahman who also has sung `Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera`.Shah Rukh Khan also bagged the `Global Indian Film Award` for `Best Actor` in 2005.&nbsp;

Feeling nostalgic about the iconic song of his film, Shahrukh Khan shared his reaction to the viral tweet of US Navy members singing `Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera` at a dinner meeting between US Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Michael M Gilday and India`s Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

Feeling nostalgic about the iconic song of his film, Shahrukh Khan shared his reaction to the viral tweet of US Navy members singing `Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera` at a dinner meeting between US Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Michael M Gilday and India`s Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Taking it to Twitter, SRK wrote, "Thank u for sharing this sir. How lovely. Git all nostalgic about the time spent making this beautiful film and belief sung in the song. Thanx @AshGowariker @RonnieScrewvala @arrahman & everyone who made it possible." Thank u for sharing this sir. How lovely. Git all nostalgic about the time spent making this beautiful film and belief sung in the song. Thanx @AshGowariker @RonnieScrewvala @arrahman & everyone who made it possible. https://t.co/rFRKcHTDCg — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) March 29, 2021 × The video got viral on social media when Taranjit Singh Sandhu, shared a video to Twitter on Saturday, which sees the US Navy officers singing `Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera` from the film `Swades`. He wrote, "This is a friendship bond that cannot be broken ever.` The song was originally composed and sung by AR Rehman for the 2004 film Swades.The clip shows a team of singers and musical instrument players from the US Navy band dressed in their uniforms as they present the song.The 1.5-minute video has garnered over 341k views on the microblogging site. The song from the 2004 movie Swades revolves around Mohan (played by Shah Rukh Khan), an Indian expatriate employed with NASA, who travels to his country to track down his beloved nanny, Kaveri. During his stay, he finds himself advocating for reform in a village. The film accumulated many awards including 2 National Awards for `Best Male Playback Singer` to Udit Narayan for another iconic song `Yeh Taara Woh Taara` and for `Best Cinematography` to Mahesh Aney. Two Filmfare awards for `Best Actor` to Shahrukh Khan and `Best Background Score` to A.R. Rahman who also has sung `Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera`.Shah Rukh Khan also bagged the `Global Indian Film Award` for `Best Actor` in 2005.

Shah Rukh Khan gets nostalgic after US Navy members sing 'Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera'

Bangladesh declared its independence on March 26, 1971. The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a decisive win for India. What was the role of the Indian Navy? Why was Mukti Bahini formed? Five decades later, we bring you the untold stories on WION Wideangle

WION Wideangle: Bangladesh liberation war: Untold stories

Indian Navy ships INS Kulish and INS Sumedha arrived on Monday in Bangladesh on March 8 to mark the 50th year of 1971 Bangladesh liberation war. The ships arrived in port town of Mongla for a three-day visit between March 8 and March 10

"Celebrating Mujib Borsho and Joint Commemoration of 1971. In a historic first, two warships INS Kulish and INS Sumedha, with Cmde MV Raju, NM, Naval Officer-in-Charge Andhra Pradesh onboard, arrived at Mongla today and were accorded a ceremonial welcome by Bangladesh Navy," Indian High Commission in Bangladesh tweeted.

"This is the first time that any Indian Naval Ship is visiting the port of Mongla in Bangladesh and the visit is aimed at paying homage to the Bangladeshi and Indian combatants and citizens who laid down their lives during the Liberation War of 1971, and reiterate India`s firm resolve and commitment to maintain peace, stability and good order in the region, in line with SAGAR - Security and Growth for all in the Region, as articulated by the Prime Minister of India," an official release stated

Bangladesh, formerly known as East Pakistan was liberated in 1971 war between Indian and Pakistani forces. Atrocities committed by Pakistan security forces in Bangladesh prior to the war had led to a huge humanitarian crisis as hundreds of thousands of refugees crossed border to seek shelter in India.

Indian Navy ships INS Kulish and INS Sumedha arrived on Monday in Bangladesh on March 8 to mark the 50th year of 1971 Bangladesh liberation war. The ships arrived in port town of Mongla for a three-day visit between March 8 and March 10 "Celebrating Mujib Borsho and Joint Commemoration of 1971.

Indian Navy ships INS Kulish and INS Sumedha arrived on Monday in Bangladesh on March 8 to mark the 50th year of 1971 Bangladesh liberation war. The ships arrived in port town of Mongla for a three-day visit between March 8 and March 10 "Celebrating Mujib Borsho and Joint Commemoration of 1971. In a historic first, two warships INS Kulish and INS Sumedha, with Cmde MV Raju, NM, Naval Officer-in-Charge Andhra Pradesh onboard, arrived at Mongla today and were accorded a ceremonial welcome by Bangladesh Navy," Indian High Commission in Bangladesh tweeted. "This is the first time that any Indian Naval Ship is visiting the port of Mongla in Bangladesh and the visit is aimed at paying homage to the Bangladeshi and Indian combatants and citizens who laid down their lives during the Liberation War of 1971, and reiterate India`s firm resolve and commitment to maintain peace, stability and good order in the region, in line with SAGAR - Security and Growth for all in the Region, as articulated by the Prime Minister of India," an official release stated Bangladesh, formerly known as East Pakistan was liberated in 1971 war between Indian and Pakistani forces. Atrocities committed by Pakistan security forces in Bangladesh prior to the war had led to a huge humanitarian crisis as hundreds of thousands of refugees crossed border to seek shelter in India.

Indian Navy ships arrive in Bangladesh to mark 50th anniversary of 1971 war

Indian Navy’s third stealth Scorpene class submarine INS Karanj commissioned

With a focus on peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region, the Indian Navy is conducting its largest biennial war games — the biennial Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX 21). The exercise commenced in early January and all the operational units of the Indian Navy — ships, submarine, aircraft as well as the units of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Coast Guard are taking part in it.

Being conducted over a vast geographical expanse of the Indian Ocean region, the exercises are aimed at testing the combat readiness of the Indian Navy. This especially when geopolitical changes are increasing in the region. During the "weapon work up phase" of the Tropex exercises, multiple "on target" missiles, torpedoes, and rockets were tested.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-hands-over-arjun-battle-tank-to-indian-army-363565" hreflang="en">PM Modi hands over Arjun battle tank to Indian Army</a>

Tropex has two other phases — one was coastal defense exercise "sea vigil" from January 12 to 13, which saw the participation of not only Navy but also coast guard, marine police of 13 coastal states and union territories, followed by tri-service joint amphibious exercise AMPHEX 21 which was conducted in the Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands.

Meanwhile, as Tropex was on, Pakistan conducted its own naval exercises — Aman 2021 that is seen as a coup by Islamabad since it saw the attendance of 45 countries — NATO, Russia. While the exercises are also seen as a "project to build a positive image", not much is achieved on-ground as compared to Malabar exercises last year between India, Japan, Australia, and the US.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-says-it-prevented-unilateral-change-of-status-quo-at-lac-363264" hreflang="en">India says it prevented unilateral change of status quo at LAC</a>

Also, modern geopolitics has increasingly been less about who got a bigger gun. In terms of humanitarian support and deliverables, last year saw Mission Sagar by the Indian Navy providing food and medical assistance to countries in the region amid the pandemic. Mission Sagar 1 provided support to five Indian ocean island countries, while Mission Sagar 2 provided support to four East African nations and SAGAR-III to two South-East Asian nations. In addition to this, under operation Samudra Setu, India brought back 3992 Indian Nationals who were stranded globally as covid impacted global travel.

Meanwhile, on February 11, 2021, Pakistan conducted a successful Training Launch of Babur Cruise Missile IA, with a range of 450 kilometres. Babur Cruise Missile is capable of engaging targets at Land and Sea with high precision. This is the third test of nuclear-capable missiles carried out over the past three weeks. The test launch of submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) Babur comes at the time when Pakistan is hosting its multinational naval drill titled “AMAN 21”, which literally means peace.&nbsp;

With a focus on peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region, the Indian Navy is conducting its largest biennial war games — the biennial Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX 21).

With a focus on peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region, the Indian Navy is conducting its largest biennial war games — the biennial Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX 21). The exercise commenced in early January and all the operational units of the Indian Navy — ships, submarine, aircraft as well as the units of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Coast Guard are taking part in it. Being conducted over a vast geographical expanse of the Indian Ocean region, the exercises are aimed at testing the combat readiness of the Indian Navy. This especially when geopolitical changes are increasing in the region. During the "weapon work up phase" of the Tropex exercises, multiple "on target" missiles, torpedoes, and rockets were tested. Also read| PM Modi hands over Arjun battle tank to Indian Army Tropex has two other phases — one was coastal defense exercise "sea vigil" from January 12 to 13, which saw the participation of not only Navy but also coast guard, marine police of 13 coastal states and union territories, followed by tri-service joint amphibious exercise AMPHEX 21 which was conducted in the Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands. Meanwhile, as Tropex was on, Pakistan conducted its own naval exercises — Aman 2021 that is seen as a coup by Islamabad since it saw the attendance of 45 countries — NATO, Russia. While the exercises are also seen as a "project to build a positive image", not much is achieved on-ground as compared to Malabar exercises last year between India, Japan, Australia, and the US. Also read| India says it prevented unilateral change of status quo at LAC Also, modern geopolitics has increasingly been less about who got a bigger gun. In terms of humanitarian support and deliverables, last year saw Mission Sagar by the Indian Navy providing food and medical assistance to countries in the region amid the pandemic. Mission Sagar 1 provided support to five Indian ocean island countries, while Mission Sagar 2 provided support to four East African nations and SAGAR-III to two South-East Asian nations. In addition to this, under operation Samudra Setu, India brought back 3992 Indian Nationals who were stranded globally as covid impacted global travel. Meanwhile, on February 11, 2021, Pakistan conducted a successful Training Launch of Babur Cruise Missile IA, with a range of 450 kilometres. Babur Cruise Missile is capable of engaging targets at Land and Sea with high precision. This is the third test of nuclear-capable missiles carried out over the past three weeks. The test launch of submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) Babur comes at the time when Pakistan is hosting its multinational naval drill titled “AMAN 21”, which literally means peace.

With focus on peace in Indian Ocean, navy conducts largest war games

India Navy conducted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-navy-to-kick-start-second-edition-of-coastal-defence-exercise-sea-vigil-on-tuesday-356108">"Exercise Sea Vigil"</a> from January 12-13 which included the entire coastline and EEZ of the country.

The exercise involved the deployment of the entire coastal security apparatus and more than 110 surface assets of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-vietnam-navy-to-undertake-passex-exercises-in-south-china-sea-352151">Indian Navy</a> and Coast Guard including the deployment of marine police and Customs.

"Security mechanism of ports was also validated during the exercise and the crisis management plans of all ports were assessed," the Navy said.

State police teams, Indian Navy marine commandos and commandos from National Security Guard(NSG)&nbsp;also took part to tackle acts of maritime terrorism. &nbsp;

The exercise validated technical surveillance infrastructure in the National Command, Control, Communication and Intelligence (NC3I) Network.

The Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) at Gurugram and its various nodes across IN and CG stations were exercised," it said.

The Navy said the envisaged objectives of the exercise were met by the whole-hearted participation of all stakeholders.

India Navy conducted "Exercise Sea Vigil" from January 12-13 which included the entire coastline and EEZ of the country. The exercise involved the deployment of the entire coastal security apparatus and more than 110 surface assets of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard including the deployment of marine police and Customs.

India Navy conducted "Exercise Sea Vigil" from January 12-13 which included the entire coastline and EEZ of the country. The exercise involved the deployment of the entire coastal security apparatus and more than 110 surface assets of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard including the deployment of marine police and Customs. "Security mechanism of ports was also validated during the exercise and the crisis management plans of all ports were assessed," the Navy said. State police teams, Indian Navy marine commandos and commandos from National Security Guard(NSG) also took part to tackle acts of maritime terrorism. The exercise validated technical surveillance infrastructure in the National Command, Control, Communication and Intelligence (NC3I) Network. The Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) at Gurugram and its various nodes across IN and CG stations were exercised," it said. The Navy said the envisaged objectives of the exercise were met by the whole-hearted participation of all stakeholders.

Exercise Sea Vigil: Navy, Coast Guard, NSG commandos tackle maritime terrorism

The second edition of the biennial pan-India coastal defence exercise `Sea Vigil-21` will be conducted on January 12-13, with the aim to assess country`s preparedness in the domain of maritime security and coastal defence, Indian Navy informed on Monday.

The exercise will be undertaken along the entire 7,516 kilometres coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone of India and will involve all the 13 coastal states and Union Territories along with other maritime stakeholders, including the fishing and coastal communities, according to an official release.As per the release, the entire coastal security set up was reorganised after the 26/11 Terror attack at Mumbai which was launched via the sea route.

Navy said that the scale and conceptual expanse of the exercise is unprecedented in terms of the geographical extent, the number of stakeholders involved, the number of units participating and in terms of the objectives to be met.

"The exercise is a build-up towards the major Theatre level exercise TROPEX [Theatre-level Readiness Operational Exercise] which the Indian Navy conducts every two years. SEA VIGIL and TROPEX together will cover the entire spectrum of maritime security challenges, including the transition from peace to conflict," the release said.Assets of the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Customs and other maritime agencies will participate in SEA VIGIL.

"It provides opportunity, at the apex level, to assess our preparedness in the domain of maritime security and coastal defence. Exercise `SEA VIGIL 21` will provide a realistic assessment of our strengths and weaknesses and thus will help in further strengthening maritime and national security," the release further said.

The inaugural edition of this exercise was conducted in January 2019.

The second edition of the biennial pan-India coastal defence exercise `Sea Vigil-21` will be conducted on January 12-13, with the aim to assess country`s preparedness in the domain of maritime security and coastal defence, Indian Navy informed on Monday.

The second edition of the biennial pan-India coastal defence exercise `Sea Vigil-21` will be conducted on January 12-13, with the aim to assess country`s preparedness in the domain of maritime security and coastal defence, Indian Navy informed on Monday. The exercise will be undertaken along the entire 7,516 kilometres coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone of India and will involve all the 13 coastal states and Union Territories along with other maritime stakeholders, including the fishing and coastal communities, according to an official release.As per the release, the entire coastal security set up was reorganised after the 26/11 Terror attack at Mumbai which was launched via the sea route. Navy said that the scale and conceptual expanse of the exercise is unprecedented in terms of the geographical extent, the number of stakeholders involved, the number of units participating and in terms of the objectives to be met. "The exercise is a build-up towards the major Theatre level exercise TROPEX [Theatre-level Readiness Operational Exercise] which the Indian Navy conducts every two years. SEA VIGIL and TROPEX together will cover the entire spectrum of maritime security challenges, including the transition from peace to conflict," the release said.Assets of the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Customs and other maritime agencies will participate in SEA VIGIL. "It provides opportunity, at the apex level, to assess our preparedness in the domain of maritime security and coastal defence. Exercise `SEA VIGIL 21` will provide a realistic assessment of our strengths and weaknesses and thus will help in further strengthening maritime and national security," the release further said. The inaugural edition of this exercise was conducted in January 2019.

Indian Navy to kick-start second edition of coastal defence exercise 'Sea Vigil' on Tuesday

In what is a clear indication of grudging acceptance, the ruling Chinese Communist Party via its mouthpiece Global Times has accepted that India has "unique geographical advantages" in the Indian ocean.

In an article on 17 December titled “India changes attitude toward multilateral mechanisms for global ambition”, Hu Shisheng who is a director of the Institute for South Asian Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations pointed out, "India has also taken the lead in planning small-scale multilateral cooperation mechanisms in the Indian Ocean”

Increasingly,&nbsp;under the groupings of IORA or Indian ocean Rim Association to the Indo-Pacific construct, New Delhi has been able to leverage the advantage with more and more countries joining Indian led initiatives. In fact, with Indo-Pacific construct, India is connecting the Indian and Pacific oceans from the east coast of Africa to the west coast of the Americas, and as External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said,"Indo-Pacific is not tomorrow’s forecast but yesterday’s reality."

And clearly, in the last few years, India has expanded its role in the Indian Ocean region (IOR), from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) to supplying food and medical aid amidst the COVID pandemic to 5 countries of the Indian Ocean namely: Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, and Seychelles.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-china-introduces-security-review-rules-for-foreign-investors-351014">Now, China introduces security review rules for foreign investors</a>

In 2019, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), under which countries like Australia, Japan, and those in ASEAN grouping has expressed willingness to work with India on issues like maritime security to transport.

In fact, in what looks like a taunt, but is more a reminder for itself, the write-up says, "India wants to be the net security provider of the Indian Ocean". While New Delhi hasn't said so, it is seen as a "Preferred Security Partner".

India's Information Fusion Centre at Gurugram, which keeps an eye on the movement of ships in the Indian ocean is emerging as the nodal center for real-time information in the region.&nbsp;

US and France have sent their liaison officers already, with more countries joining. Under its defense training programmes, India has provided Mobile training teams to 11 countries from Vietnam to South Africa, as well as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

And in a Deja Vu, the Chinese communist party's indignation via its mouth-piece about India’s ‘Sinophobic, pro-West’ diplomacy comes as no surprise. While Beijing sees India drifting away, it forgets how it opposed New Delhi's bid for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) or the UN Security Council. 2020 saw an increasingly aggressive China, which not only violated agreements on buildups at the Line of Actual control but also indulged in actions such as those in Galwan which saw 20 Indian soldiers attaining martyrdom.

Beijing is already perturbed by Quad meetings and Australia being invited to Malabar exercises and the country perhaps failed to understand or recall the outreach by New Delhi in form of informal summits--in Wuhan and then the Chennai connect. But past is past, as the world woke up to a new China, an aggressive one amidst the COVID pandemic.

In what is a clear indication of grudging acceptance, the ruling Chinese Communist Party via its mouthpiece Global Times has accepted that India has "unique geographical advantages" in the Indian ocean.

In what is a clear indication of grudging acceptance, the ruling Chinese Communist Party via its mouthpiece Global Times has accepted that India has "unique geographical advantages" in the Indian ocean. In an article on 17 December titled “India changes attitude toward multilateral mechanisms for global ambition”, Hu Shisheng who is a director of the Institute for South Asian Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations pointed out, "India has also taken the lead in planning small-scale multilateral cooperation mechanisms in the Indian Ocean” Increasingly, under the groupings of IORA or Indian ocean Rim Association to the Indo-Pacific construct, New Delhi has been able to leverage the advantage with more and more countries joining Indian led initiatives. In fact, with Indo-Pacific construct, India is connecting the Indian and Pacific oceans from the east coast of Africa to the west coast of the Americas, and as External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said,"Indo-Pacific is not tomorrow’s forecast but yesterday’s reality." And clearly, in the last few years, India has expanded its role in the Indian Ocean region (IOR), from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) to supplying food and medical aid amidst the COVID pandemic to 5 countries of the Indian Ocean namely: Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, and Seychelles. Also Read | Now, China introduces security review rules for foreign investors In 2019, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), under which countries like Australia, Japan, and those in ASEAN grouping has expressed willingness to work with India on issues like maritime security to transport. In fact, in what looks like a taunt, but is more a reminder for itself, the write-up says, "India wants to be the net security provider of the Indian Ocean". While New Delhi hasn't said so, it is seen as a "Preferred Security Partner". India's Information Fusion Centre at Gurugram, which keeps an eye on the movement of ships in the Indian ocean is emerging as the nodal center for real-time information in the region. US and France have sent their liaison officers already, with more countries joining. Under its defense training programmes, India has provided Mobile training teams to 11 countries from Vietnam to South Africa, as well as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. And in a Deja Vu, the Chinese communist party's indignation via its mouth-piece about India’s ‘Sinophobic, pro-West’ diplomacy comes as no surprise. While Beijing sees India drifting away, it forgets how it opposed New Delhi's bid for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) or the UN Security Council. 2020 saw an increasingly aggressive China, which not only violated agreements on buildups at the Line of Actual control but also indulged in actions such as those in Galwan which saw 20 Indian soldiers attaining martyrdom. Beijing is already perturbed by Quad meetings and Australia being invited to Malabar exercises and the country perhaps failed to understand or recall the outreach by New Delhi in form of informal summits--in Wuhan and then the Chennai connect. But past is past, as the world woke up to a new China, an aggressive one amidst the COVID pandemic.

China tacitly accepts India's supremacy in Indian Ocean

India-China standoff: How Indian Navy's MARCOS can change the game along  Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh

The Indian Navy was ready to face dual challenges from COVID-19 and China, stating that they are determined to remain stable during these test times, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh said on Thursday.

Indian Navy chief says, "Alive to any threat in maritime domain, P8i aircraft deployed"

Amid the ongoing standoff between Indian and Chinese forces in the Line of Actual Control (LAC) &nbsp;region at Ladakh, a top naval officer said on Thursday that Indian Navy has played a crucial role in "deterring" Beijing's aggression.

"The Navy is a silent service and once you sail over the horizon, nobody knows what happens, except those who have communication systems on the ships. The Navy played an important role in deterring the PLA (Navy) at that time and the message has gone across to them very unambiguously that they cannot mess with us at sea or on land," said Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command," as quoted by The Indian Express. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In pics | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/india-china-standoff-how-indian-navys-marcos-can-change-the-game-along-pangong-lake-in-eastern-ladakh-346930">India-China standoff: How Indian Navy's MARCOS can change the game along Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Chawla also said that the situation had given the forces impetus to focus on developing strengths, including human resource, operation capabilities, among others while talking to reporters on the occasion of Navy Week.&nbsp;

In pics | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-indian-navys-ins-kora-destroys-target-in-bay-of-bengal-with-anti-ship-missile-339031">How Indian Navy's INS Kora destroys target in Bay of Bengal with anti-ship missile</a>

Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh on Thursday said that the force is ready for various threats in the maritime region, including China.

He also said the Indian Navy's surveillance aircraft P-8I and Heron drones are deployed in the LAC to track Chinese activities.&nbsp;

"Whatever we are doing is in close coordination with the Army and the Indian Air Force," said the chief admiral.&nbsp;

India and China are locked in a tensed border row in eastern Ladakh for about seven months which was escalated by the Chinese military's aggression.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Amid the ongoing standoff between Indian and Chinese forces in the Line of Actual Control (LAC) region at Ladakh, a top naval officer said on Thursday that Indian Navy has played a crucial role in "deterring" Beijing's aggression.

Amid the ongoing standoff between Indian and Chinese forces in the Line of Actual Control (LAC) region at Ladakh, a top naval officer said on Thursday that Indian Navy has played a crucial role in "deterring" Beijing's aggression. "The Navy is a silent service and once you sail over the horizon, nobody knows what happens, except those who have communication systems on the ships. The Navy played an important role in deterring the PLA (Navy) at that time and the message has gone across to them very unambiguously that they cannot mess with us at sea or on land," said Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command," as quoted by The Indian Express. In pics | India-China standoff: How Indian Navy's MARCOS can change the game along Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh Chawla also said that the situation had given the forces impetus to focus on developing strengths, including human resource, operation capabilities, among others while talking to reporters on the occasion of Navy Week. In pics | How Indian Navy's INS Kora destroys target in Bay of Bengal with anti-ship missile Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh on Thursday said that the force is ready for various threats in the maritime region, including China. He also said the Indian Navy's surveillance aircraft P-8I and Heron drones are deployed in the LAC to track Chinese activities. "Whatever we are doing is in close coordination with the Army and the Indian Air Force," said the chief admiral. India and China are locked in a tensed border row in eastern Ladakh for about seven months which was escalated by the Chinese military's aggression.

Indian Navy played key role in deterring Chinese forces: Top official

In a sign of its growing global outreach, the Indian Navy is associating with 21 countries and 22 multi-national agencies for quick sharing of information related to maritime activities in the Indian Ocean region. 
 
At any given time, the Indian Navy monitors close to 12,000 ships and 300 fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean Region. Apart from that, there are close to 3 lakh Indian fishing vessels operating in the seas and their activities too are observed by the force. 
 
The Indian Ocean Region accounts for 75 per cent of the world`s maritime trade and 50 percent of global consumption passes through it prompting security measures involving multiple countries. 
 
Now, the Indian Navy is able to get real time information through its Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region. 
 
The force is associated with 21 countries including Australia, France, Italy, Japan, the Maldives, the US, New Zealand, Mauritius, Myanmar and Bangladesh, among others, along with 22 multi-national agencies for quick sharing of information in the Indian Ocean Region. 
 
The International Fusion Centre, located at Gurugram, was started in December 2018 to facilitate maritime information to the member countries. 
 
Three countries -- France, Japan, and the US -- have sent their liaison officers to the centre for better coordination and real time sharing of sea activities, while many more countries are expected to deploy their liaison officers, once Covid-19 protocols are lifted. 
 
The Indian Navy has got the go ahead to have white shipping agreements with 36 countries, out of which 22 have been signed and 17 operationalised, sources said. 
 
Earlier this month, the `Malabar` maritime exercise between navies of the Quad or Quadrilateral Coalition - an informal security forum comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia - in Indian Ocean Region was hosted in two phases by Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. 
 
This set up is apart from Indian government`s Security and Growth for All in the Region (Sagar) initiative which reiterates India`s position as a dependable partner in Indian Ocean Region with Indian Navy as the principal maritime agency and first responder in the maritime domain.

In a sign of its growing global outreach, the Indian Navy is associating with 21 countries and 22 multi-national agencies for quick sharing of information related to maritime activities in the Indian Ocean region.

In a sign of its growing global outreach, the Indian Navy is associating with 21 countries and 22 multi-national agencies for quick sharing of information related to maritime activities in the Indian Ocean region. At any given time, the Indian Navy monitors close to 12,000 ships and 300 fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean Region. Apart from that, there are close to 3 lakh Indian fishing vessels operating in the seas and their activities too are observed by the force. The Indian Ocean Region accounts for 75 per cent of the world`s maritime trade and 50 percent of global consumption passes through it prompting security measures involving multiple countries. Now, the Indian Navy is able to get real time information through its Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region. The force is associated with 21 countries including Australia, France, Italy, Japan, the Maldives, the US, New Zealand, Mauritius, Myanmar and Bangladesh, among others, along with 22 multi-national agencies for quick sharing of information in the Indian Ocean Region. The International Fusion Centre, located at Gurugram, was started in December 2018 to facilitate maritime information to the member countries. Three countries -- France, Japan, and the US -- have sent their liaison officers to the centre for better coordination and real time sharing of sea activities, while many more countries are expected to deploy their liaison officers, once Covid-19 protocols are lifted. The Indian Navy has got the go ahead to have white shipping agreements with 36 countries, out of which 22 have been signed and 17 operationalised, sources said. Earlier this month, the `Malabar` maritime exercise between navies of the Quad or Quadrilateral Coalition - an informal security forum comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia - in Indian Ocean Region was hosted in two phases by Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. This set up is apart from Indian government`s Security and Growth for All in the Region (Sagar) initiative which reiterates India`s position as a dependable partner in Indian Ocean Region with Indian Navy as the principal maritime agency and first responder in the maritime domain.

Expanding outreach: Indian Navy ties up with 21 nations for maritime awareness

India-Sri Lanka and the Maldives on Saturday agreed to further strengthen maritime co-operation in a high-level trilateral dialogue held after a gap of six years. The fourth National Security Advisor-level trilateral talks were hosted by Sri Lanka. Indian NSA Ajit Doval represented India and held discussions with ri Lankan Defence Secretary Major Gen (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne and Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Didi.

According to a joint statement issued by Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence, the three countries -- recognising the significance of the forum for promoting meaningful cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region on common issues pertaining to maritime security -- took stock of the current maritime security environment in the region.

They discussed mutual cooperation in the areas of Maritime Domain Awareness, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Joint Exercises, Capacity Building, Maritime Security and Threats, Marine Pollution, and Maritime Underwater Heritage, it said.

They agreed to further strengthen cooperation in dealing with these challenges, to ensure peace and security in the region for common benefit, the joint statement said.

The three countries also exchanged views on common security threats and agreed to broad base cooperation by expanding the scope to improve intelligence sharing and include issues like terrorism, radicalisation, extremism, drugs, arms and human trafficking, money laundering, cyber security and effect of climate change on maritime environment, it said.

Northern Indian Ocean is traditionally seen as a part of influence sphere of Indian Navy. But China has increased its presence in these waters in recent years.

China views the Maldives and Sri Lanka as key to its Maritime Silk Road project in the Indian Ocean. It has already acquired the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka on long lease and established a military base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.

India, Sri Lanka and Maldives agreed to meet regularly to share, discuss and ensure timely implementation of decisions taken at the meeting. They also decided to hold Deputy NSA level working group meetings biannually for cooperation at operational level, according to the statement.

Mauritius and Seychelles were represented virtually at senior officials' level, it said, adding that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dialogue was conducted adhering to strict health guidelines using the 'Air Bubble' concept for the visiting delegations.

Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives launched the Trilateral NSA level Meeting on Maritime Security Cooperation in 2011 and three meetings have been held so far.

The past deliberations and outcomes have helped the three countries in improving close coordination in maritime security of the region. These were supplemented by Deputy NSA level meetings for sustained engagements and implementation of the discussions at the NSA level meetings, the statement said.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena addressed the meeting as the chief guest. Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage also attended the event, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry tweeted.

Doval, who arrived in Colombo on Friday for the dialogue, on Friday met Didi and held a cordial and detailed discussion on deepening bilateral partnership with the key island nation in the Indian Ocean.

Doval also met Gunaratne on Friday and they agreed on several steps to further strengthen the "valuable" cooperation between the two countries which also contributes to peace and security in the region.

"NSA Ajit Doval met Major Gen(Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne, Defence Secretary of SriLanka &amp; discussed matters pertaining to the growing defence and security partnership between the two countries," the Indian High Commission in Colombo said in a tweet.

The high-level trilateral meeting is designed to initiate collective action on maritime security including maritime domain awareness, legal regimes, train in search and rescue, maritime pollution response, information sharing, curbing piracy drugs arms and contraband trafficking in the Indian Ocean region.

On Thursday, the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi said the NSA-level trilateral meeting had served as an effective platform for cooperation among Indian Ocean countries.

"The meeting will provide an opportunity for discussion on issues pertaining to cooperation in maritime security in the Indian Ocean region," the MEA said in a statement.

This is Doval's second official visit to Sri Lanka this year. In January, he visited the island nation and discussed a range of bilateral issues, including strengthening cooperation in defence, intelligence sharing and maritime security with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. 
&nbsp;

(With PTI inputs)

India-Sri Lanka and the Maldives on Saturday agreed to further strengthen maritime co-operation in a high-level trilateral dialogue held after a gap of six years.

India-Sri Lanka and the Maldives on Saturday agreed to further strengthen maritime co-operation in a high-level trilateral dialogue held after a gap of six years. The fourth National Security Advisor-level trilateral talks were hosted by Sri Lanka. Indian NSA Ajit Doval represented India and held discussions with ri Lankan Defence Secretary Major Gen (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne and Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Didi. According to a joint statement issued by Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence, the three countries -- recognising the significance of the forum for promoting meaningful cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region on common issues pertaining to maritime security -- took stock of the current maritime security environment in the region. They discussed mutual cooperation in the areas of Maritime Domain Awareness, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Joint Exercises, Capacity Building, Maritime Security and Threats, Marine Pollution, and Maritime Underwater Heritage, it said. They agreed to further strengthen cooperation in dealing with these challenges, to ensure peace and security in the region for common benefit, the joint statement said. The three countries also exchanged views on common security threats and agreed to broad base cooperation by expanding the scope to improve intelligence sharing and include issues like terrorism, radicalisation, extremism, drugs, arms and human trafficking, money laundering, cyber security and effect of climate change on maritime environment, it said. Northern Indian Ocean is traditionally seen as a part of influence sphere of Indian Navy. But China has increased its presence in these waters in recent years. China views the Maldives and Sri Lanka as key to its Maritime Silk Road project in the Indian Ocean. It has already acquired the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka on long lease and established a military base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. India, Sri Lanka and Maldives agreed to meet regularly to share, discuss and ensure timely implementation of decisions taken at the meeting. They also decided to hold Deputy NSA level working group meetings biannually for cooperation at operational level, according to the statement. Mauritius and Seychelles were represented virtually at senior officials' level, it said, adding that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dialogue was conducted adhering to strict health guidelines using the 'Air Bubble' concept for the visiting delegations. Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives launched the Trilateral NSA level Meeting on Maritime Security Cooperation in 2011 and three meetings have been held so far. The past deliberations and outcomes have helped the three countries in improving close coordination in maritime security of the region. These were supplemented by Deputy NSA level meetings for sustained engagements and implementation of the discussions at the NSA level meetings, the statement said. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena addressed the meeting as the chief guest. Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage also attended the event, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry tweeted. Doval, who arrived in Colombo on Friday for the dialogue, on Friday met Didi and held a cordial and detailed discussion on deepening bilateral partnership with the key island nation in the Indian Ocean. Doval also met Gunaratne on Friday and they agreed on several steps to further strengthen the "valuable" cooperation between the two countries which also contributes to peace and security in the region. "NSA Ajit Doval met Major Gen(Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne, Defence Secretary of SriLanka & discussed matters pertaining to the growing defence and security partnership between the two countries," the Indian High Commission in Colombo said in a tweet. The high-level trilateral meeting is designed to initiate collective action on maritime security including maritime domain awareness, legal regimes, train in search and rescue, maritime pollution response, information sharing, curbing piracy drugs arms and contraband trafficking in the Indian Ocean region. On Thursday, the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi said the NSA-level trilateral meeting had served as an effective platform for cooperation among Indian Ocean countries. "The meeting will provide an opportunity for discussion on issues pertaining to cooperation in maritime security in the Indian Ocean region," the MEA said in a statement. This is Doval's second official visit to Sri Lanka this year. In January, he visited the island nation and discussed a range of bilateral issues, including strengthening cooperation in defence, intelligence sharing and maritime security with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. (With PTI inputs)

India-Sri Lanka-Maldives agree to bolster maritime co-operation

India's food aid of 50 MT to deal with the COVID-19&nbsp;crisis has reached Djibouti as part of Mission Sagar 2 which is focused on New Delhi's outreach to African countries.

The aid which arrived on INS Airavat was received by Djibouti's Secretary-General, Ministry of Social Affairs Ifrah Ali Ahmed, in the presence of Indian envoy Ashok Kumar.

Ministry of external affairs said, "In keeping with India’s tradition of reaching out to people of Africa in times of need, the government of India has decided to provide humanitarian assistance to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti&nbsp;and Eritrea. This is in the form of food aid of 270 MT to people affected by natural calamities and the COVID-19&nbsp;pandemic in these countries."

The aid&nbsp;which consists of wheat flour, rice, and sugar has already been given to Sudan and Eritrea&nbsp;and the next stop will be Mombasa, Kenya meant for South Sudan. 100&nbsp;MT of food aid was given to Sudan, 50 MT to Eritrea, and 70 MT of food aid will be given to South Sudan.

Under Mission Sagar 1, India had reached out to five&nbsp;Indian Ocean countries -&nbsp;&nbsp;Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros&nbsp;and Seychelles. &nbsp;

The outreach is part of India's SAGAR - Security and Growth for All in the Region - policy and shows how the Indian Navy is the first responder in the maritime domain in the Indian Ocean region.

India's food aid of 50 MT to deal with the COVID-19 crisis has reached Djibouti as part of Mission Sagar 2 which is focused on New Delhi's outreach to African countries.

India's food aid of 50 MT to deal with the COVID-19 crisis has reached Djibouti as part of Mission Sagar 2 which is focused on New Delhi's outreach to African countries. The aid which arrived on INS Airavat was received by Djibouti's Secretary-General, Ministry of Social Affairs Ifrah Ali Ahmed, in the presence of Indian envoy Ashok Kumar. Ministry of external affairs said, "In keeping with India’s tradition of reaching out to people of Africa in times of need, the government of India has decided to provide humanitarian assistance to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea. This is in the form of food aid of 270 MT to people affected by natural calamities and the COVID-19 pandemic in these countries." The aid which consists of wheat flour, rice, and sugar has already been given to Sudan and Eritrea and the next stop will be Mombasa, Kenya meant for South Sudan. 100 MT of food aid was given to Sudan, 50 MT to Eritrea, and 70 MT of food aid will be given to South Sudan. Under Mission Sagar 1, India had reached out to five Indian Ocean countries - Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles. The outreach is part of India's SAGAR - Security and Growth for All in the Region - policy and shows how the Indian Navy is the first responder in the maritime domain in the Indian Ocean region.

India's COVID-19 food aid reaches Djibouti

Malabar military exercise 2020: India, US, Japan & Australian navies to set sail

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