The presence of the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean Region is a discomfort for those who seek to destabilise the region, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday, adding that Operation Sindoor has sent a global message that India is ready to respond to every challenge.
Addressing senior officers at the Naval Commanders Conference, Singh said the Navy created a deterrence posture that forced Pakistan to remain near its coast and the world witnessed Navy’s operational readiness, professional capability and strength during the operation.
He described the Navy’s presence in the IOR as a matter of “comfort for friendly nations” and “discomfort for those who seek to destabilise the region”. “IOR has become the centre of contemporary geopolitics. It is no longer passive; it has become an area of competition and cooperation. The Indian Navy, through its multi-dimensional capabilities, has played a leadership role in the region,” Singh said.
He said in the past six months, the Navy has been deployed at an unprecedented scale and has provided safe passage for tonnes of cargo with a trade value of $5.6 billion. “This is proof that India has now become a trusted and capable partner in the global maritime economy,” he said.
Singh applauded the Navy’s role in promoting self-reliance, given its pioneering efforts in ensuring that most equipment is sourced from domestic players. “In the last 10 years, nearly 67 per cent of the Navy’s capital acquisition contracts have been with Indian industries. This proves that we are no longer dependent solely on imports.”
Singh said new jobs were created not just for every ship and submarine built in India but also for the numerous subsystems that are sourced from smaller companies. Citing frigates being made under Project 17A, he shared that with 75 per cent local content, the project has created over 1.27 lakh jobs in shipyards and its suppliers across the country.
