New Delhi Jul 10 (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday asserted that India is the primary guarantor of peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), and lauded the Indian Navy for safeguarding the country’s maritime interests amid an increasingly complex global security environment.
Addressing naval personnel during a Barakhana event in Visakhapatnam on the eve of the commissioning of Mahendragiri, the sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, Singh said the Navy is protecting India’s maritime borders, securing vital sea lanes and upholding national interests across the region.
Describing India as the largest and most responsible stakeholder in the Indian Ocean Region, the defence minister said the country remains committed to ensuring peace, stability and a secure maritime environment.
He noted that over 90 per cent of India’s trade by volume is carried through sea routes, making maritime security crucial for economic growth, energy security, the Exclusive Economic Zone and island territories.
Referring to the changing global security scenario, Singh said future conflicts could emerge in new and unforeseen forms, and stressed that armed forces must remain physically and mentally prepared while continuously upgrading their skills and mastering emerging technologies.
“There are conflicts that are fought without a formal declaration of war. The adversary of tomorrow may not look like the adversary of the past,” he said.
The defence minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the armed forces with world-class weapons, technology and other resources, while emphasising that it is the personnel operating them who ultimately determine victory.
Highlighting India’s push for self-reliance in defence, Singh described the commissioning of Mahendragiri as another milestone in the country’s indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla and other senior Indian Navy officers were present on the occasion.—(NVI)
