India will ensure freedom of navigation, won’t allow pressure on friendly nations, says Rajnath

Karwar: In a veiled signal to China, defence minister Rajnath Singh said India will ensure that no country uses its economy or military power to exert pressure on another country in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Singh said that India will continue to enhance its presence in the IOR to safeguard its own strategic interests as well as those of its allies.
“When I speak of the presence of India in the Indian Ocean, it is connected not just to India’s security and national interests, but it also signals equality of rights and duties of all our friendly nations of the IOR,” Singh said.
He was speaking at Karwar from where the Indian Navy commenced the maiden deployment of a warship with crew from nine nations for maritime surveillance in the Southwest IOR.
The offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna, designated as IOS Sagar for the month-long mission, forms a key part of India’s commitment to regional maritime security and international cooperation.
The vessel has 44 naval personnel from Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania. The mission reinforces the call to develop the IOR as a symbol of brotherhood and shared interests, Singh said.
“In the IOR, free navigation, rules-based order, anti-piracy ops, and peace and stability are our major objectives,” Singh said. “This will not only ensure security in the region but also enhance its prosperity.”
The maiden deployment of a naval warship marks an unprecedented collaboration in maritime security and seeks to counteract China’s growing influence and presence in the IOR.
During the deployment, the IOS Sagar with its international crew will participate in the Aikeyme (‘unity’ in Sanskrit) maritime exercise with key African nations. This is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions (Mahasagar).
“The deployment would also include combined exclusive economic zone surveillance of a few IOR island nations like Seychelles, Madagascar, and Mozambique,” an official said.
Singh reviewed the Navy’s maritime security situation, the operational readiness of the force, and the future outlook during the first phase of the Naval Commanders’ Conference at Karwar.
He was accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, and other senior officials.
“It is our responsibility to ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region as it has become a focal point for the world,” Singh said.
The defence minister also inaugurated infrastructure projects worth Rs 2,000 crore, including nine piers and 480 dwelling units under Project Seabird at Karwar.