Visakhapatnam: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday lauded the Indian Navy for safeguarding the country’s maritime interests, asserting that India stands as the primary guarantor of peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
Addressing naval personnel on the eve of the commissioning of Mahendragiri, the sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, he said the Navy was protecting India’s maritime borders, securing vital sea lanes and upholding the country’s interests amid an increasingly complex global security environment.
“India stands as the primary guarantor of peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR),” a PIB press release quoted him as saying.
Highlighting the strategic significance of the IOR, Singh said over 90 percent of India’s trade by volume passes through maritime routes, while the country’s energy security, Exclusive Economic Zone and island territories make maritime security central to economic growth and national interests.
He said increasing geopolitical competition and the growing presence of extra-regional powers have made heightened maritime vigilance essential.
Describing India as the largest and most responsible stakeholder in the IOR, the defence minister reaffirmed the country’s commitment to peace, stability and a secure maritime environment.
“The region is our courtyard, and securing the courtyard is our responsibility,” he said.
Singh termed the commissioning of Mahendragiri another shining example of India’s growing indigenous defence capabilities and progress towards self-reliance.
He credited the valour, commitment and patriotism of the armed forces for protecting the country from threats and challenges while urging personnel to continuously upgrade their skills and master cutting-edge technologies.
Stressing that the nature of warfare is evolving rapidly, he said future conflicts could emerge in new and unforeseen forms, including those fought without a formal declaration of war, and warned that tomorrow’s adversary may not resemble those of the past.
He urged soldiers to remain physically and mentally prepared and assured them that the government would leave no stone unturned to provide the armed forces with the world’s best weaponry, technology and resources, while emphasising that wars are ultimately won by the people who wield those weapons.
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, the press release added.
