President Kovind asserts primacy of Indian maritime power in Indian Ocean

Vishal Thapar Feb 21, 2022

Prompt and effective deployment of the Indian Navy in times of crises underscores India’s vision of being the ‘Preferred Security Partner’ and ‘First Responder’ in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), President Ram Nath Kovind said in his address at the Presidential Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam on February 21.

Sixty ships and submarines were lined up for a review of India’s maritime capability and the readiness of the Indian Navy by President Kovind, who is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces. Fifty-five maritime aircraft carried out a fly-past on the occasion.

The Presidential Fleet Review is conducted once during the tenure of very President, this edition being the 12th. The majestic ceremony is show of strength at sea and a demonstration of allegiance to the Supreme Commander.

President Kovind remarks dovetailed with India’s assertion of being the principal power and benevolent security provider in the IOR. He made his comments while narrating the response of the Indian Navy during the Covid-19 pandemic. “The Indian Navy has been providing aid to friendly nations by supplying medicines and evacuating stranded Indian citizens and foreign nationals in different parts of the world under ‘Mission SAGAR’ and ‘Samudra Setu’,” he said.

The President emphasized the criticality of ensuring the safety of the seas and highlighted the role India wishes to play in this common, global good. “India believes in ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ to focus on cooperative measures for sustainable use of oceans. A large part of global trade flows through the Indian Ocean Region. A significant portion of our trade and energy needs are met through the oceans. Safety of the seas and of the maritime commons, therefore, remains a critical requirement. The Indian Navy’s constant vigil, prompt response to incidents and untiring efforts have been highly successful in this regard,” he said.

India’s statement of naval strength was underscored by the increasing indigenization of its Fleet, President Kovid suggested. Of the 60 ships and submarines at the Review, 47 were made at Indian shipyards, showcasing India’s march towards self-reliance.

“I am happy to note that the Indian Navy is becoming increasingly self-reliant and has been at the forefront of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. I am told that about 70 per cent of the contents of several warships and submarines under construction in various public and private shipyards across the country are indigenous. It is a matter of great pride that India has built nuclear submarines and soon we will have our indigenously built aircraft carrier, ‘Vikrant’, joining the service,” he noted.

The development of indigenous naval shipbuilding capabilities is an impressive contribution to the making of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, he said.

While commending the Navy for conducting the event despite the limitations imposed by the Pandemic, President Kovind said the Fleet Review showcased the preparedness of the Indian Navy for any contingency.

Linking the centrality of naval power to the location of the Fleet Review, the Supreme Commander recalled the heroics of the Indian Navy at Vizag during the 1971 War. “I recall the heroic action of the Eastern Naval Command in the naval blockade of the then East Pakistan and the sinking of Pakistan’s submarine ‘Ghazi’. That was a decisive blow to Pakistan. The 1971 war remains one of the most emphatic victories in our history,” he narrated.

The offshore patrol vessel, INS Sumitra, was converted into the Presidential Yacht for the Fleet Review. President Kovind sailed past 44 ships anchored in four parallel lanes, and was accorded a ceremonial salute by each of these ships as he sailed by.

Ships from all the naval commands and the tri-service Andaman and Nicobar Command were anchored for the Presidential Review. Top-of-the-line warships reviewed by the President included the recently-inducted stealth destroyer INS Visakhapatnam and the Kalvari-class submarine INS Vela.

Frontline warships INS Chennai, Delhi, Teg and three Shivalik-class frigates and three Kamorta-class anti-submarine warfare corvettes were also part of the review. Ships from the Coast Guard, Shipping Corporation of India and Ministry of Earth Sciences also took part. The fly-last featured the MiG-29K fighters, P8I, IL-38SD and Dornier maritime reconnaissance aircraft, Hawk trainers and Kamov, Sea King, Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv) and Chetak helicopters.