IMPORTANCE OF STRATEGIC SEALIFT CAPABILITY FOR INDIA'S MARITIME SECURITY

As India strives to achieve the status of an economic powerhouse, there is an increasing need to develop sealift capabilities that are required of a major power in the Indian Ocean region, argues VENUGOPAL MENON

- VENUGOPAL MENON

The 21st century has witnessed sweeping changes, and considerable turbulence, in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in areas of our national interests. As the largest democracy and an emerging major economy, India's role as a responsible player towards promoting peace and stability has been recognized on the global stage. As the country advances on the path of socio-economic growth, India cannot afford to be complacent about the emerging security environment and related security challenges, particularly in the IOR and in our extended neighbourhood.

The Indian Navy has a key role to play in meeting the maritime components of these challenges, which have been increasing in both scale and scope in recent years. As a professional and committed force, the Indian Navy has been playing a proactive role in our maritime domain. These include the provision of rapid and large-scale humanitarian aid to areas and countries affected by natural disasters, especially after the tsunami in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea littoral in 2005, non-combatant evacuation of Indian citizens and other innocent civilians from Lebanon in 2006, Operation Safe homecoming from Libya in 2011, Operation Raahat from Yemen in 2015, Operation Samudra Sethu during Covid pandemic in 2020. These are a few examples of seaborne rescue missions.

These operations were undertaken by the Navy using all types of ships which underscored the importance of the need for sealift capabilities. However, the availability of suitable commercial ships referred to as STUFT (Ships Taken Up FromTrade) have an equally important role in both logistical support of Naval ships in wartime and for undertaking HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) missions.

Sealift