IndiaPosted at: Sep 29 2026 6:22PM


India first responder, preferred security partner in Indian Ocean Region: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, Sep 29 (UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said India has emerged as a first responder and preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region, asserting that the Indian Navy's expanding operational presence reflects the country's growing blue-water force capability and strategic responsibilities.
Addressing the second edition of the Indian Navy's biannual Commanders' Conference 2026 at Nausena Bhawan here, Singh said the presence of Indian warships in the South China Sea, Mediterranean and Atlantic Oceans demonstrated the Navy's ability to operate across distant maritime regions.
"India stands firm as the First Responder, Preferred Security Partner and as a symbol of trust and reliability in the Indian Ocean Region, and the entire world is witnessing the growth of both our strategic position and our strategic responsibility in the region," he said.
Highlighting the increasingly complex maritime security environment, the Defence Minister said congestion, deception and grey-zone activities had made the maritime domain more challenging than ever before, necessitating a significant enhancement of monitoring and response mechanisms.
He underlined the strategic importance of the Indian Navy in ensuring regional stability, protecting economic interests and strengthening India's maritime power projection.
"The Indian Navy serves as a strategic anchor in the vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047'. Beyond merely guarding maritime boundaries, our Navy strengthens economic protection, regional stability, and power projection," Singh said.
He called upon the Navy to maintain its momentum and transform itself into a future-ready, combat-ready and globally respected force, reiterating the government's commitment to its modernisation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
Highlighting the Navy's role during the West Asia crisis, Singh described the safe transit of Indian-flagged merchant vessels, particularly LPG tankers, through the Strait of Hormuz under Operation Urja Suraksha as an outstanding achievement.
He said India's dependence on maritime routes for energy supplies made the security of sea lanes directly linked to the country's economy, energy security and defence preparedness.
India imports approximately 85-90 per cent of its crude oil and around 50 per cent of its natural gas through maritime routes, he added.
The Defence Minister also called for a substantial upgrade of India's maritime surveillance architecture, emphasising the need to strengthen existing systems and enhance analytical capabilities in view of the growing volume and complexity of maritime traffic.
On naval modernisation and self-reliance, Singh said the Indian Navy's warship production ecosystem was now meeting global benchmarks, with recently commissioned warships incorporating more than 75 per cent indigenous content.
"The Indian Navy's warship production ecosystem is now meeting global benchmarks. The warships commissioned recently contain over 75 per cent indigenous content. In the times ahead, we must not only meet our own requirements but also export our warships to friendly foreign nations," he said.
Describing 2026 as a historic year for the Navy, Singh said plans were underway for the induction or commissioning of 18 warships, which would mark the largest single-year force accretion in its history.
He said the developments reflected the growing maturity of India's domestic naval shipbuilding ecosystem, while stressing the need for further capability enhancement.
Commending the Navy's initiatives under the "All Ranks, All Roles" approach, the Defence Minister highlighted the deployment of women officers on frontline warships and aircraft, as well as their participation in navigational expeditions, including the Navika Sagar Parikrama voyage.
He also congratulated the Navy on assuming command of Combined Task Force-154 under the Combined Maritime Forces, describing it as an important contribution to regional cooperative security.
Singh highlighted Operation Southern Readiness, conducted in Kochi during India's command tenure of CTF-154, which involved 276 personnel from 27 countries, 76 facilitators and subject-matter experts, and four international organisations.
He further commended the deployment of INS Sudarshini for Lokayan-26, saying the voyage had strengthened India's maritime diplomacy and engagement with the Indian diaspora across the United States, Atlantic and Mediterranean regions while showcasing the country's maritime heritage.
Concluding his address, Singh praised the Navy for maintaining a high level of combat readiness and fulfilling its operational commitments across the region despite evolving challenges.
He said India's maritime power was not merely about displaying the national flag at sea, but ensuring that wherever the Tricolour was seen, it conveyed security, trust and confidence.
"If the seas are secure, India will be secure; and if India is secure, the resolve for a Viksit Bharat will be further strengthened," he said.
The Defence Minister also interacted with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth during the conference.
The three-day apex-level conference, being held from September 29 to October 1, brings together the Indian Navy's top leadership to review operational preparedness, maritime security and future capability development.
UNI PWS RSA
Tags: #India first responder# preferred security partner in Indian Ocean Region: Rajnath Singh
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