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DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20140704T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20140704T053000
DTSTAMP:20261104T164643
CREATED:20231223T133306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231224T130238Z
UID:63088-1404451800-1404451800@idsa.in
SUMMARY:The Indian Navy’s Growing Maritime Reach: An Unfinished Agenda
DESCRIPTION:Chair: Vice Admiral (Retd) Anup SinghExternal Discussant: Cmde (Retd) Rajeev Sawhney and Cdr Gurpreet KhuranaInternal Discussant: Cmde Ajay Chhabra \nThe  paper argues that as the pre-eminent maritime force in the Indian Ocean Region\,  the Indian Navy has\, in recent years\, witnessed a sharp rise in its  contribution to regional maritime security efforts. But beyond the enlargement  of its traditional security role\, the navy is also experiencing a relative  expansion in its benign and diplomatic functions\, wherein it is the favoured  instrument of policy in exerting influence in India’s maritime neighbourhood  and facilitating humanitarian and disaster relief operations. Acutely aware of  the need to contend with dynamics beyond coastal and near-regional defence\, the  Indian Navy has been upgrading its force structure and operations philosophy.  The paper seeks to answer the question – in its quest to shape its maritime  periphery does the Indian navy need to do more to project power and influence  far beyond India’s shores? \nThe  paper concludes by saying that the Indian Navy’s maritime reach and operations  mind-set has evolved considerably over the past two decades. However\, while its  security role in its near regions has grown substantially\, its power-projection  capability still remains underdeveloped. The author further argues that the  Indian Navy must play a leading role in forging a new maritime order where it  is a consequential force for regional stability and public good. There is a  need for the Indian Navy to reappraise its forward-operations strategy to  include elements of hard-power projection. For this\, it must bring significant  improvements in its logistics capabilities\, C4ISR\, air-defence and land-attack  (precision strike) functions. Substantive capacity must be complemented by  operational ingenuity and doctrinal innovative to create a sustainable  distance-operations capability. A key task will be to improve interoperability  with other maritime forces\, effective communications and a model of coordinated  forward-operations. Moreover\, in expanding its strategic footprint\, logistics  supply arrangements and repair and resupply facilities would be of critical  importance.  \nMajor Points  of Discussion and Suggestions to the Author:\n\nWhile benign role is an  important aspect of multiple roles that the Indian navy is supposed to play; it  must not lost sight of the fact that it is primarily a war fighting machine and  hence must keep itself combat ready. Moreover\, since benign missions have  become cover up for acquiring offensive weapons and platforms\, India should  also keep a tab on such developments.\nIndia’s reluctance to be seen  as an expeditionary power is reflected in its effort to couch offshore  operations in terms such as OOAC\, HADR\, etc. \nIndia’s expeditionary moves  have emanated mostly from Navy\, though the standing committee on defence also  recommends and support it.\nIt was opined by many that there  is huge pressure on the Indian navy to increase its outreach. However\, the Navy  must strike a balance between the growing aspirations and demand on it and the  resources it has on disposal. Admittedly\, we have interests elsewhere also in  the sea apart from the Indian Ocean\, viz in the South China Sea; but the moot  point is that can we afford to support our operations and sustain it with the  limited resources we have. It was argued that when we talk about expanding  reach\, the sustainability factor must not be lost sight of.\nIt was brought out that special  operations could be important component of our power projection strategy.\nIt was highlighted that Indian  Navy’s primary role is the support of foreign policy objectives. Naval plans  and strategies must adhere to these objectives. It should be in sync with  India’s economic diplomacy.\nIt was argued that our  forward-operations strategy will get a boost by signing more LSAs. LSA has  commercial component and it helps the host nation’s economy. Therefore\,  compared to FOBs\, LSAs are more feasible and desirable.\nIt was pointed out that India  must keep a tab on Chinese navy which is replicating US strategy of having a  strong navy to become a world power. The recent focus of china on maritime  security is quite evident.\nIndia must strike a balance  between threat and capability approach in strategy making. The capability  approach is politically more correct since it refrains from talking about  enemy. However\, real threats can’t be ignored and in this regard India must take  into account Chinese game plans.\nTo  aspire for great power status without developing matching capabilities to  fulfil the obligations that come along this status would fail us. India’  reluctance to engage in expeditionary activities or in security architectures  can be partly explained thus.\nIt  was argued that currently the priority of foreign policy of India is to  maximise economic gains to internally stabilise and power-projection therefore\,  has been put on the backburner. \nOne  reason for India’s reluctance to look beyond its borders is its troubled  neighbourhood. Leadership role has to begin with neighbours and it was pointed  out by discussants that India’s neighbours are not conducive to India playing  an important role at the regional and global level. India is accused of nursing  big brotherly attitude towards its neighbours. The China factor is also very  important in India’s foreign policy and its quest for leadership role. China is  both a determinant and constraint on India’s foreign policy.\nIt  was brought up during the discussion that India has to play an important role in  the IOR as abdicating its responsibility will allow China to take control of  the situation to the detriment of India.\nThe author was advised to  analyse some of the overseas deployments of Indian Navy and asses the efficacy  of those. Have they demonstrated reach per se of the Indian navy?\nThe paper should also analyse  the US sea base model and then explain why it is neither feasible nor desirable  in Indian case.\nThe paper would enrich if it  also includes the Coast Guard in the scope of the study. Coast Guard can be  tasked to specific jobs both in peacetime and during the wartime.\nArctic is importantly becoming  a zone of importance and the Indian Navy must explore its options there.
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/the-indian-navys-growing-maritime-reach-an-unfinished-agenda
CATEGORIES:FELLOW'S SEMINAR,EVENT REPORT
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