Indian Ocean | Business Upturn

Iran targets U.S. warship in Indian Ocean: Report

Aman Shukla — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 05:32:25 +0000

The recent escalation in the Middle East has reached the vast waters of the Indian Ocean, where Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have successfully targeted a U.S. warship.

These developments follow intense exchanges, including U.S. and allied strikes on Iranian naval forces and infrastructure (with reports of multiple Iranian ships sunk or damaged). The presence of major U.S. assets like the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in nearby waters has added to regional tensions.

The U.S. side has not independently confirmed any successful Iranian hits on its warships in the Indian Ocean. Official statements from U.S. Central Command and the Pentagon have denied or downplayed similar past claims (such as alleged strikes on carriers), often describing Iranian missiles as intercepted or missing targets. No verified reports of major damage or casualties from this specific incident have emerged from neutral or Western sources yet.

This event underscores the risks of widening confrontations beyond traditional conflict zones, potentially affecting global shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean. Both sides continue to monitor developments closely, with naval movements and defensive postures remaining high.

French and Indian Naval Forces forge stronger ties with joint exercises at INS Dega

Gowri Jagadish — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:12:46 +0000

The crews of the two French aircraft, the Atlantique-2 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and the Airbus A400 French Transport Aircraft, were cordially welcomed by the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy at INS Dega in Visakhapatnam. The ongoing cooperation between the French and Indian fleets, which aims to improve interoperability through bilateral exercises, has reached a major turning point with this visit.

Run by the French Navy’s Flottille 23F, the Atlantique-2 and its experienced aircrew will conduct business with the Indian Navy’s Dornier Squadron, INAS 311, which is based at INS Dega. The primary objective is to promote understanding between stakeholders and lay the foundation for harmonious cross-domain activities.

The French Atlantique-2 and the Indian Navy’s P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft have been working together to conduct joint drills over the Bay of Bengal. These cooperative exercises aim to improve interoperability and foster synergy, facilitating smooth operations in the maritime sector.

Given that French naval capabilities are present in the Indian Ocean highlights how crucial cooperative efforts are becoming to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific area. The French and Indian fleets’ cooperation is a symbol of their ongoing commitment to serving as “Net Security Providers” in the area and presents a unified front for preserving security and peace.

Apart from the strategic consequences, these cooperative Indo-French exercises act as an understanding link between France and India. In addition to reinforcing diplomatic ties, meetings between the naval forces help lay the groundwork for future collaboration and confidence.

Chinese Navy plans to develop better port infrastructure in Indian Ocean

News Desk — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 08:58:41 +0000

One of China’s strengths, being an authoritarian communist state is its ability to wield a “whole of nation” approach to security, diplomatic and economic affairs around the world. This is very evident from its recent efforts to develop port infrastructure and to carve out opportunities for Naval bases in territories far from home. The region being talked about here is the Indian Ocean, where China is investing heavily in commercial ports such as Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The threat of “A string of pearls”, a network of Chinese-controlled facilities, oscillating about the perimeter of the Indian Ocean, a network that can be used by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has been debated for years, but it is yet to be realised. Gwadar Port in Pakistan is consistently being examined as a potential base for PLA Navy (PLAN), but this too, is yet to occur.

In fact, China’s greatest progress has been in Djibouti, when PLA opened its first military base on 1 August 2017. China’s Djibouti base is just 15 minutes away from the camp Lemmonier, the USA’s largest military facility on the African continent.

China is also considering building new ports in Senegal, to access west Africa and the South Atlantic. China has to take its next moves very carefully because it knows that there will be significant resistance from other countries if it creates military bases in sensitive regions of the world.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) released a report entitled “Leaping Across The oceans: The Port Operators Behind China’s Naval Expansion” in February 2021. Its authors stated a co-relation between BRI and PLA. The report said, “What’s likely to emerge from COVID-19, is a scaled-down, more focused BRI.”

The future projects will be more strategically targeted and financially viable. The BRI will support PLA operations and objectives, denying the adversaries to use their powers or build “significant strategic influence”, the report stated. The ASPI report warned that– “The most probable cause is that PRC (People’s Republic of China) would continue to expand their port operations. It would offer a commercial advantage to Chinese companies involved. PLA Navy ports calls would increase in frequency and Chinese State-owned enterprises (SOEs), are expected to provide logistical assistance to the navy in expansion projects (such as Djibouti). So there’s a moderate risk of PRC-controlled port facilities being used against host countries to advance the interests of CCP”.

Indian Ocean is a zone of peace & security: Maldives Foreign Minister

Nitin Anand — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:13:29 +0000

On Friday, April16, Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives visited India for working purpose from 15-16 April.

During his visit to New Delhi, Foreign Minister Shahid met the External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S Jaishankar today for discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Abdulla Shahid interacted to media and talks about Maldives’ relation with India and China. He said, “In international relations there is no comparison. For countries like Maldives, we have only friends. We don’t compare friends. But India has always been first responder & our best friend.”

He further added– “We believe that the Indian Ocean is a zone of peace & security that is essential to be stable, for the prosperity of Maldives. We are working with all our friends to make sure that it remains the same,” as quoted by ANI.

We believe that the Indian Ocean is a zone of peace & security that is essential to be stable, for the prosperity of Maldives. We are working with all our friends to make sure that it remains the same: Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Affairs Minister of Maldives to ANI

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2021

Abdulla Shahid expressed his pleasure on India-China relationship and added– “I am very pleased that there has been more dialogue in India-China relationship. Confident that with dialogue, India & China – both economic powers of the world now – will be able to avoid any confrontation. I trust their leadership to do the right thing.”

Foreign Minister Shahid also participated in the Raisina Dialogue in virtual mode in sessions on “Financing for Sun” and “Global public health after the Pandemic”.

Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region and occupies a central and special place in the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ – Security and Growth for All in the Region. Foreign Minister Shahid’s visit is expected to lend further momentum to the close bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Indian Navy’s ‘Dornier aircraft’ grounds at Maldives for MNDF operations to monitor Chinese vessels

Shravan Kanade — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 11:39:05 +0000

The Dornier aircraft provided by the Indian Navy to the Maldives, today landed in the Maldives. It will operate under the command of the MNDF (Maldives National Defence Force) while running costs will be borne by India.

One of the people cited above said about its importance and operations, “The aircraft will help in monitoring the activities of Chinese vessels in regional waters. The surveillance of the EEZ includes the tracking of all adversarial movements, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and drug and human trafficking.”

He added that this aircraft would help counter-terror activities, “In light of the Mahibadhoo and Laamu attacks by suspected terrorists, the Dornier aircraft will also be useful in the counter-terrorism sphere. The isolated and dispersed nature of islands and resorts can be safeguarded only by a technologically capable fixed-wing aircraft,”

The Indian high commission in Male tweeted, “As per Govt-to-Govt Agreement & discussions started in 2016, the Dornier arrives! It will engage in humanitarian relief efforts & joint-EEZ surveillance under command & control of #MNDF; It proudly dons #MNDF colors & crest, and will involve Maldivian pilots in its operations”.

“While it could not get implemented earlier, the present government of President Ibrahim Solih has been able to implement it. Maldivian pilots, observers, and technical personnel are being trained to operate the Dornier aircraft since June 2017,” said an official who declined to be named.
The current government of the Maldives has been successful in getting more such training programs organized by India, the official said.

Maldives is a good friend for India while having a strategic position in the Indian Ocean. Earlier, India received help from the Maldives to block the way of Pakistan to host the SAARC summit.

The Chinese Research Vessel Yuan Wang spotted in Indian Waters similar to ships found in Philippines planted by China

Aditi Swarup — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 13:30:26 +0000

Last Month a Chinese Yuan Wang class research vessel entered the Indian Ocean from Malacca straits. The same type of ship had previously entered the Philippines governed shores uncalled for by China.

It was being constantly tracked by the Indian Navy deployed in the ocean.
This is not the first time that this has happened. Another such vessel was asked to leave Indian waters in December 2019. In fact, Chinese research vessels have also been spotted near the east coast of the Philippines.

Chinese research ship Dong Fang Hong 3 was located operating in northern Luzon days after Chinese survey ship Zhang Jian was seen near the east coast of the Philippines. https://t.co/cpxC7Ik3Ga

— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) August 8, 2019

This development came at a time when the tensions between the Indian Army and the Chinese PLA at the Ladakh border were at their peak.

Chinese Yuan Wang-class research vessel had entered Indian Ocean Region from Strait of Malacca last month. It was constantly tracked by Indian Navy warships deployed in the region. The vessel returned to China few days ago after being under constant watch of Indian Navy vessels. pic.twitter.com/z7AoRna5N1

— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2020