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Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to the principles of freedom of navigation, trade, and commerce, emphasizing a rules-based world order. Speaking in Vizag, he commended the Indian Navy for securing not only domestic vessels but also those from friendly nations, citing the recent drone attack on a British ship in the Gulf of Aden and the prevention of five piracy attempts.
During the commissioning of INS Sandhayak, the first of four Survey Vessel Large (SVL) ships, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, Singh highlighted the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean and the challenges posed by choke points like the Gulf of Aden. He praised the Navy’s swift response in rescuing ships from pirate threats and asserted India’s intolerance towards maritime piracy and smuggling, describing it as a commitment to “New India.”
Singh lauded the Navy’s efforts in thwarting piracy attempts, aiding ships attacked by drones and missiles, and rescuing 80 fishermen and mariners. He emphasized the Navy’s role in ensuring safe trade, peace, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region, characterizing it as the rise of a superpower rooted in India’s cultural ethos of protection for all.
Addressing the growing power of India, Singh outlined the nation’s determination to eradicate anarchy not only from the region but the entire world. He reiterated India’s commitment to a rules-based world order, targeting illegal and unregulated fishing in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions. Singh stated that the Navy’s efforts extend beyond countering piracy to tackling narcotics and human trafficking, fostering peace, and prosperity in the region.
INS Sandhayak, part of the SVL Project, is expected to play a crucial role in achieving India’s objectives. Singh underscored the government’s intention to strengthen the Navy, envisioning India as a promoter of world peace. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar highlighted the government and navy’s growing emphasis on oceanic surveys, essential for operating at sea, as demonstrated by the SVL project.
The commissioning of INS Sandhayak symbolizes a significant step towards bolstering India’s maritime capabilities, aligning with its broader strategic vision for a secure and rules-based international order.