Oct 13, 2011

Launching a new security paradigm for the Indian Navy, the Defence Minister seems to have over reached as per some calculations in assuming the policing rights in the Indian Ocean Region. While this was the role that the US Defence Secretary was expecting India to perform, that there is a shift in the thinking in the Indian military will also be a welcome news for the global security managers given the many challenges that are being faced in the Indian Ocean region. The role however remains limited to smaller island states which would include in South Asia Maldives and on the East African coastal islands as Mauritius in the ambit. The Navy would also be heavily involved in patrolling and surveillance assistance, to countries such as the Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives and Sri Lanka as well as in counter-piracy operations in this role. Coordination of coastal security would also be an important challenge for the Indian navy thereby wearing many hats.