India's responsibility as a net security provider for the Indian Ocean region is huge. The only force that is capable of taking up that responsibility is the Indian Navy. Being a maritime nation primarily, India needs a strong navy that befits its size, geographical location and global stature,argues this report from Geopolitics bureau.
In the 70 years since independence, India has emerged as a major maritime nation, with a naval power that is the world's fourth largest in size, but scores better than those on capabilities. India has fought four major wars with its traditional rivals China and Pakistan, of which at least two had major naval power on display.
India's maritime history and legacy is not what will define its navy's future, but the present and clear dangers lurking in its backyard will. India has always held that its main area of interest and responsibility lies in the Indian Ocean region stretching from the East coast of African continent on its western seaboard to the Malacca Straits on the eastern seaboard.
Indian Navy's former Chief Admiral R K Dhowan had during his tenure expanded this truism a little further to state that Indian Navy's responsibility and area of interest would be to go and effectively operate across the oceans and seas, wherever India's economic and strategic interest lay. This is to euphemistically state that Indian Navy would demonstrate force and power in waters such as the South China Sea, where India has economic interest in oil and gas exploration.
That strategic shift in Indian Navy's stated operational objectives is definitely going to give headaches to China that has claimed almost the entire South China Sea as its maritime territory and thus led to conflict situations. This has been clearly indicated by Chinese spokespersons time and again, asking India directly and indirectly to stay away from South China Sea.
This story is from the December 2017 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2017 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
India's space economy set to soar
India's burgeoning space economy could see a substantial increase in its global share by 2040. At present, India's space sector contributes a modest $8 billion to the overall cake. However, the government has set its sights on an ambitious target, aiming for a five-fold surge in India's share of the global space economy.
CRITICAL NEED TO BOOST CONVENTIONAL SUBMARINE FLEET
VENUGOPAL MENON explains why India cannot afford to view the critical deficiency in Submarine force levels lightly
BEEFING UP OUR SUBMARINE FLEET
In the last week of March, the Indian Navy displayed its submarine prowess. Eight of its submarines operated together in the Western Indian Ocean Region, a first in three decades, and one of its Scorpene submarines sailed to the Andaman Nicobar Islands, overlooking the Malacca Strait, a critical choke point for China. But how is the comparison with China? RITU SHARMA reports
ENHANCING CRUISE MISSILE CAPABILITY
India’s cruise missile capability has largely evolved as a credible conventional level deterrence since the turn of the new millennium. But much more needs to be done, writes AMARTYA SINHA
BOOSTING DEFENCE EXPORTS
Earlier, India was known to be an arms importer. But today, the country has come out of its comfort zone and found a place in the list of top-25 arms exporter nations argues AMARTYA SINHA
ENHANCING INDIA'S AIRBORNE SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITIES
Project NETRA represents a proactive initiative by ISRO to safeguard India's interests in space by mitigating the risks posed by space debris and other hazards, says GIRISH LINGANNA
THE HIMALAYAN TRIANGLE: WHY INDIA KEEPS BHUTAN SAFE FROM CHINA
India, given its special relationship with Bhutan, has been very wary about the possibility of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the signing of a boundary agreement between Bhutan and China, writes SIMRAN SODHI
TROOST, DESAI AND SANCTIONS
The Western sanctions against companies and individuals doing business with Russia have produced a complex set of reactions with lobbyists and shell companies working overtime to beat the rap. A GEOPOLITICS Bureau report
THE KOREA-GATE
India attaches great importance to “three principles of inclusiveness, trust and reciprocity’” for creating the basis for working more closely with like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific such as the Republic of Korea (ROK), better known as South Korea for “a free, peaceful and prosperous region”. Prakash Nanda dissects the relationship and the way ahead
Pushpak RLV-TD successfully lands autonomously
ISRO achieved another significant milestone in reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology with the successful landing of Pushpak (RLV-TD), the winged vehicle, autonomously on the runway.
