India: Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff visits Malaysia

Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Indian Navy is on a goodwill visit to Malaysia from 11 to 15 April 2017. The visit is intended to consolidate and enhance bilateral maritime relations between India and Malaysia and is expected to provide a major boost to defence relations between India and Malaysia. 

During his visit, the Admiral will hold discussions with the Deputy Minister of Defence, Chief of Royal Malaysian Defence Forces along with the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force of Malaysia. 

The Indian and the Royal Malaysian navies cooperate with each other in terms of training, operational interactions as well as interacting at various multilateral forums like Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, MILAN and ADMM Plus. Warships from both navies visit each other’s ports to build ‘Bridges of Friendship’. The Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) along with RMN corvette KD Lekir participated in the International Fleet Review-2016, at Visakhapatnam in February 2016. 

An inaugural Field Training Exercise is also scheduled between both navies in June this year, coinciding with the visit of Indian naval ships to Malaysia. 

The Admiral, in addition to holding important bilateral discussions with various dignitaries, will also visit major naval establishments of the Royal Malaysian Navy including the submarine base. He will also address the participant Officers and faculty of the prestigious Royal Malaysian Armed Forces Command and Staff College.

Indian Press Information Bureau

India: CNS Visit to Japan

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC is on an official visit to Japan commencing 19 December 2016. The visit aims to consolidate existing Maritime Cooperation initiatives as well as explore new avenues. 

The friendship between India and Japan has a long history rooted in spiritual affinity and strong cultural and civilisational ties. India’s earliest documented direct contact with Japan was with the Todaiji Temple in Nara, where the consecration or eye-opening of the towering statue of Lord Buddha was performed by an Indian monk, Bodhisena, in 752 AD. In contemporary times, among prominent Indians associated with Japan were Swami Vivekananda, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, JRD Tata, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Judge Radha Binod Pal. The Japan-India Association was set up in 1903, and is today the oldest international friendship body in Japan. 

Defence cooperation between India and Japan is robust and is primarily focused towards Maritime Cooperation. Our defence cooperation was institutionalised with commencement of the India-Japan Comprehensive Security Dialogue which was initiated in 2001. 

News Story: India's diplomacy to contain China's maritime expansion - Global Times

To prevent China from expanding its maritime power into the Indian Ocean, New Delhi has launched a naval diplomacy campaign to garner support from Australia, Japan and Vietnam, reports China's Global Times.

India's chief of naval staff, Admiral RK Dhowan, began a five-day visit to Australia on Oct. 2, where he held a series of discussions with the chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, deputy chief of defense Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, as well as defense minister Marise Payne about future maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean. The talks coincided with the prestigious annual Sea Power Conference organized by the Royal Australian Navy.

Dhowan used the opportunity to engage with the heads of navies from 40 different countries around the globe. Australia is currently one of the staging bases for US military operations in the disputed South China Sea, where China has been building artificial islands in the face of competing claims from the Philippines and Vietnam, among other countries.

Read the full story at Want China Times

Editorial: India’s ‘Look West’ Maritime Diplomacy

By Abhijit Singh

Recent developments show that India’s attention is very much on the Indian Ocean.

India’s maritime diplomacy is most often associated with its naval outreach to East Asia. With an increase in naval ship visits to South East Asia in recent years, and attendant media speculation over New Delhi’s supposed Pacific ambitions, the impression has been created that East Asia remains the ultimate destination of the Indian Navy’s diplomatic endeavours. By contrast, New Delhi’s nautical diplomacy in the Indian Ocean has seemed relatively modest. Despite its considerable contribution to sea-lanes security and counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, in the popular imagination, the Indian Navy’s security efforts in the Indian Ocean region have remained confined to the level of constabulary and benign presence.

Developments in the past few months, however, have shown that India’s attention remains squarely focused on the Indian Ocean. Since February this year, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sri Lanka, Seychelles and Mauritius, making it clear the Indian Ocean littorals remained India’s top priority, New Delhi has actively nurtured relationships with its maritime neighbours. Having improved the texture of its diplomatic ties, India has also sought to undertake joint developmental projects and strengthen a maritime security trilateral with Sri Lanka and Maldives through the inclusion of Seychelles.

New Delhi’s maritime diplomatic efforts haven’t remained limited to the cultivation of political relationships. In April this year, the Indian Navy scored one of its biggest diplomatic successes when it evacuated over 4000 Indians and 900 foreign nationals from war‐torn Yemen. Operation Rahat was seen as a credible illustration of the India’s maritime peacekeeping and benign potential, more so because it was conducted amid an active conflict, amidst an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

AUS: Indian Navy crosses oceans to visit Australia

Two Indian Navy Ships (INS) Satpura and Kamorta have been conducting training and security patrols while transiting the Indian Ocean and will arrive in Fremantle today on a goodwill visit.

The arrival of the two Indian Navy Ships coincides with a visit by the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Commander Vice Admiral Satish Soni, PVSM, AVSM, NM, ADC, who is in Perth to hold discussions and make preparations ahead of the Royal Australian Navy’s first bilateral maritime exercise with India.

The exercise will be held in September in the Eastern Fleet exercise areas off the east coast of India.

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN said the exercise was a significant step forward in the bilateral relationship and reflected the maturing defence relationships of both countries, lead by their respective navies.

Editorial: New Openings for India in the US-Iran Thaw

By Harsh V. Pant

As the United States and Iran head toward a broader rapprochement, what does India stand to gain?

Last week, P5+1 and Iranian diplomats in Lausanne, Switzerland, announced that they had reached a framework for a nuclear deal. The negotiations will now continue to work on technical issues as diplomats work toward a deadline for a comprehensive agreement at the end of June. The announced framework would permit Iran a limited nuclear enrichment capacity, but would subject its civil nuclear program to a strict and intrusive inspection regime. Iran, in exchange, would receive gradual relief from nuclear sanctions as it demonstrates compliance. Though the operationalization of the framework would not be easy, as a first cut the framework is fairly comprehensive with most important parameters duly accounted for.

The stakes are high for the West as benefits of a possible rapprochement with Iran potentially include the cessation of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the opening of Iran’s vast domestic market to western trade and investment, the emergence of Iran as an alternative to Russia as a major oil and gas supplier to Europe, more effective solutions to dealing with regional problems such as Islamic State terrorism and the Syrian civil war, and an end to Iran’s deeply damaging 35-year political, cultural and human isolation. The Obama administration sees the Iranian government as a tactical partner in the Middle East though this remains controversial, given that U.S. allies — including Israel and Arab states helping tackle the Islamic State, like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — feel threatened by Iran.

Iran has long been a litmus test that India has had to pass to satisfy American policy makers. New Delhi’s bond with Tehran has been termed variously by analysts as an “axis,” a “strategic partnership” and even an “alliance.” This level of scrutiny has always been disproportionate to the reality of the relationship. When in the past India had to choose between Iran and the United States, it always sided with the latter. As the US itself now gravitates towards Iran, new diplomatic possibilities open up for India. 

Read the full story at The Diplomat

Related Story: How an Iran Nuclear Deal Would Benefit India

India: Chief of Naval Staff visit to Bangladesh 23-26 Feb 2015

Admiral RK Dhowan, Chief of Naval Staff is on an official visit to Bangladesh from 23 to 26 Feb 15. The visit is intended to further consolidate the defence relations between the two countries and also to explore new avenues for naval cooperation towards achieving comprehensive maritime security in the Bay of Bengal. 

During his stay at Bangladesh, the Chief of Naval Staff is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with the three Service Chiefs at Dhaka as well as ‘call-on’ the President and the Prime Minister. The CNS will also visit various training and operational facilities at Khulna and Chittagong. 

The Indian and Bangladeshi Navies cooperate with each other in various areas of technical training, participation in Victory Day celebrations, Navy to Navy Staff Talks as well as through interactions at various multilateral fora such as the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, and the Western Pacific Naval Symposium. The Bangladeshi Navy has been regularly participating in the MILAN series of exercises conducted by Indian Navy at Port Blair, and warships from both Navies call at each other’s ports. These avenues for cooperation provide excellent opportunity for professional exchanges, developing interoperability and to build camaraderie. 

The major issues that are likely to be discussed by the Chief of Naval Staff include exchange of white shipping information towards development of comprehensive maritime domain awareness, cooperation in maritime infrastructure development, training and exchange of subject matter experts. In addition, Bangladesh Navy has been invited to attend the prestigious International Fleet Review being organised by the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam in Feb 2016. 

Indian Press Information Bureau

Editorial: Indonesia - A Potential Leader in the Indian Ocean

By Awidya Santikajaya

Indonesia is well placed to play a leading role in developing a better regional architecture for the Indian Ocean.

On his recent trips to the APEC, ASEAN and G20 summits, Indonesian President Joko Widodo spoke of how he saw Indonesia’s role as a “global maritime axis.” Recognizing Indonesia’s status as the world’s largest archipelagic state and its location at the crossroads of the Indian and Pacific oceans, Widodo emphasized the importance of making Indonesia’s strategic maritime position the cornerstone of foreign policy. This new policy raises an interesting question: How will Indonesia define its position in Indian Ocean, given its role as next year’s chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

For decades the main focus of Indonesia’s diplomacy has been ASEAN and its northern region. This makes sense, particularly given close economic times between Indonesia and countries in East Asia (both Northeast and Southeast). Now, with his maritime vision, Widodo intends to expand Indonesia’s active diplomatic presence from merely ASEAN-centric to the broader Indo-Pacific arena.

But if it is to play an effective and constructive role, Indonesia will need to carefully understand the Indian Ocean region and be clear on what it actually could contribute. 

Read the full story at The Diplomat

Editorial: The Modi Doctrine for the Indo-Pacific Maritime Region

By Patrick M. Cronin and Darshana M. Baruah

India’s PM has wasted no time pursuing a new maritime doctrine in the Indian Ocean and beyond.

Only six months into his tenure, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is breathing new life into the concept of Indo-Pacific security. Indeed, it is not too early to describe the key elements of an emerging “Modi Doctrine” focused on the vigorous pursuit of political influence through greater maritime power. Acutely aware that India’s development is best advanced across the sea lanes of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the prime minister is embarking on a course of intensified engagement with other regional maritime powers.

If the Modi Doctrine persists, then about a quarter century of “looking East” is truly set to be followed by a long-term period of “acting East.” Heightened security cooperation with Japan, Australia, and the United States are three prime indicators of the new doctrine. Strengthening existing security ties with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and deepening cooperation with islands in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean are other factors underpinning this doctrine.

Eighty-eight months ago, in August 2007, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe underscored the rising significance and linkages between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Abe told the Indian Parliament that the rising “confluence of the two seas” would draw together Asia’s two wealthiest democracies. Three months ago, while visiting Abe in Tokyo, Prime Minister Modi took steps to operationalize a “special strategic global partnership.” He talked of “vikas vaad” (peaceful development) and “vistar vaad” (expansionism) characteristics of nations in the 21st century, noting that nations engaging in vikas vaadlead to development.  In perhaps a thinly veiled reference to China’s maritime coercion he pointed out that some countries are still stuck in the “18th century” mindset, engaging in “encroachments” of other’s territory.

Burgeoning Indian-Japanese security cooperation is one reason to believe that the Look East policy is genuinely now the Act East policy. The two countries are now fully committed to the joint production of a large, four-engine amphibious aircraft, the ShinMaywa US-2. This is critical departure for both countries. For Japan, the US-2 would mark the first major sale of military hardware overseas since the end of the Second World War. In fact, Japan is reportedly mulling over a new government-financing agency to ensure that money does not hold back the implementation of its recently relaxed export guidelines. 

Read the full story at The Diplomat

Think Tank: Australia, India and maritime security

By Anthony Bergin

In a historic address to Parliament in Canberra, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested both countries should collaborate more on maintaining maritime security: ‘We should work together on the seas and collaborate in international forums’. Modi noted that ‘the oceans are our lifelines. But, we worry about its access and security in our part of the world more than ever before’.

He’s spot on: the importance of the Indian Ocean can’t be over-emphasised. Over 55,000 ships transit through the Indian Ocean every year transporting oil, consumer goods and food, reflecting the dependence of nations of the region and beyond on this ocean. So Modi was right to raise the maritime security challenges faced by both countries, particularly the need for protection of sea lines of communication. (These days that includes ensuring global broadband connectivity via the network of undersea cables.)

Both our naval forces are effective, and they aren’t in competition with each other. Common maritime challenges include counter piracy, maritime safety, strengthening port state control, and search and rescue. In his Canberra speech, Modi also singled out the opportunity for both countries to respond to regional disasters: that should include operational aspects between designated coordinating authorities.

Editorial: The Emerging India-Australia Maritime Relationship

By Abhijit Singh

Narendra Modi is making a triumphant tour of Australia at an interesting time in bilateral relations.

There was a palpable excitement in India when Prime Minister Narendra Modi jetted off to attend the G-20 summit at Brisbane. This was partly because of the announcement that Modi would be embarking on a bilateral tour of Australia at the completion of the meeting of world leaders, and that he would be addressing the Indian diaspora in Sydney tomorrow, in what was a much anticipated recreation of the Madison Square Garden moment in New York two months ago. This time, Modi is expected to speak to a crowd of around 20,000 people.

Engaging with the Indian expatriate community is, indeed, fast becoming Modi’s signature move on his tours abroad. There is nothing quite as effective as mass fervor in conveying political strength and India’s charismatic premier realizes its inherent potential. From a foreign policy and regional security perspective, however, it is Modi’s meeting with his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott that promises a more interesting outcome.

There are a number of issues for discussion, but one that is likely to top strategic agenda is “maritime security.” Ever since Canberra officially declared its interests in the Indian Ocean last year, there has been speculation in the strategic community about an evolving maritime coalition (PDF) in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Indeed, Australia has in recent years sought to strengthen its nautical posture in the Indian Ocean, reviving its ties with regional states. It is, however, the vigorous pursuit of its relationship with India that has provided evidence of Canberra’s desire to play a larger security role in the IOR. 

Read the full story at The Diplomat

Think Tank: The Indian Ocean Rim Association - a progress report

By Anthony Bergin

The Indian Ocean littoral region’s resources and economic growth are attracting greater political attention. So it’s surprising there wasn’t more press coverage of last week’s meeting in Perth of the 20 member-states of the Indian Ocean Rim Association. IORA aims to spearhead future regional integration as the Indian Ocean grows in economic importance.

Australia is chairing the Association—until next year, when we hand over the role to the current vice chair, Indonesia. IORA’s the only pan-regional forum in the Indian Ocean that tries to address challenges faced by the more than 2 billion people who live around the Indian Ocean rim. Its priority issues include maritime safety and security, trade and investment facilitation, fisheries management, disaster risk-management, and academic, science and technology, tourism and cultural exchanges.

Membership of IORA is in demand. Somalia’s in the queue to join the association, although there are still a few formalities before that’s finalised. Myanmar and Maldives are also applying to join. But Somalia’s application signifies a new and constructive development: IORA members recognise that the international community has made significant investments in the area adjacent to its 1700-kilometre coastline, and Somalia needs to be constructively engaged (presumably IORA would do that once Somalia’s membership begins.)

AUS: Timor-Leste Secretary of State for Defence visit

Maritime security and regional stability were key points of discussion when Minister for Defence David Johnston and the Timor-Leste Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Júlio Tomás Pinto met in Canberra.

Senator Johnston said today’s meeting addressed bilateral defence activities including the Defence Cooperation Program.

“Australia and Timor-Leste share a close and cooperative defence relationship and, as close neighbours, both countries are committed to supporting regional stability,” Senator Johnston said.

“The security situation in Timor-Leste has remained calm and stable over the past few years, and Australia acknowledges the efforts of the Government and the people of Timor-Leste in achieving these conditions.”

Think Tank: Indian Ocean could get choppy without regional security cooperation

Italian oil tanker Enrica Lexie (top) as an Indian coastguard

vessel patrols (bottom) in waters off India's state of Kerala

Author: Peter van der Hoest, GRIPS

The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is home to 75 per cent of the world’s oil, iron and tin reserves. India, Japan and China have all contributed to what they consider their national interest to keep these maritime trade routes open. All three nations have emphasised the strategic imperative of keeping sea-lanes secure in their various high-level strategic policy documents.

The Chinese and Japanese openly state that the main task of their anti-piracy efforts is to look after their own merchant vessels. The Indian Navy asserts that it aims to provide assurances to both Indian and foreign merchant vessels alike. Yet all three navies have greatly contributed not only to the protection of their own merchant fleet but also to securing the global common that is the Indian Ocean.

As piracy has hampered the free flow of goods and services in the region, many countries have participated in policing operations — bringing about a steady decline in piracy activity. The International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau reported a drop in piracy of 40 per cent worldwide between 2011 and 2013 with incidents around the coast of Somalia dwindling from 237 to 15.

Sri Lanka: Commander of the Navy attends IONS 2014

Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage attended the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) 2014 Seminar and Conclave of Navy Chiefs held in Australia. The seminar was held from 26th to 27th March 2014 under the theme, "Protecting the ability to trade in the Indian Ocean Maritime Economy" while the conclave attended by participating Chiefs of Navies was held on 28th March. The Commander was accompanied by Navy Seva Vanitha Unit President, Mrs. Srima Colombage.

The biennial event was hosted by the Royal Australian Navy, which will hold the IONS chairmanship for the next two years. Between the sessions, the Navy Commander was able to meet a number of high ranking defence and naval officials that included Australian Defence Minister, Hon.  David Johnston, His Excellency the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Australia, Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, Chiefs of Naval Staff Pakistan Navy, Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandila, Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, Commander-in-Chief Royal Thai Navy, Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom, Chief of Australia Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, Chiefs of Naval Staff Bangladesh Navy, Vice Admiral M Farid Habib and Australia Aborginal leader.

IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region. It provides an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues. At present, there are 35 member Navies, which have been geographically grouped into four sub-regions namely, South Asian Littorals, West Asian Littorals, East African Littorals and South East Asian & Australian Littorals.

Sri Lanka Navy

AUS: Royal Australian Navy appointed chair of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium group of nations

The Royal Australian Navy will from today chair the group of world navies whose nations share boundaries with the Indian Ocean.

Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, AO, CSC, RAN, was handed Chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium group by Rear Admiral (Junior Grade) Sagaren L Pillay SM, MMM representing the former chair, Vice Admiral Mosiwa Samuel Hlongwane of the South African Navy, at the opening of the biennial Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in Perth, Western Australia, yesterday.

IONS 2014 was officially opened yesterday by the Senator the Honourable Michaela Cash, who delivered the keynote address. Over the next three days, the participating navies will discuss issues affecting the Indian Ocean, with a specific emphasis on protecting the ability to trade in the Indian Ocean maritime economy.

IONS was established in 2008 as a forum to increase maritime cooperation among the littoral states of the Indian Ocean region.

AUS: HMAS Childers returns from Indian Ocean deployment

HMAS Childers (File Photo)

The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) HMAS Childers has arrived in Darwin after participating in Milan 2014, the biannual international naval event hosted by the Indian Navy in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from 5–9 February 2014.

Milan 2014 was designed to increase maritime cooperation, interoperability and mutual understanding among navies of the Indian Ocean region.

Key activities included a sea passage exercise, an international maritime seminar on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), a celebration of 50 years of the Indian Navy in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and cultural exchange activities.

The RAN Commander Mine Warfare Patrol Boat Group, Captain Bob Plath, said Milan 2014 was an effective forum to discuss common concerns in the Indian Ocean region such as regional security, prosperity and HADR.

India: 17 Nations 15 Ships Demonstrate a Momentous ‘Milap’ - Milan 2014 an Unequivocal Success

India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands

15 ships manoeuvered in perfect harmony in the clear Andaman Sea on a balmy morning making for a grand culmination of the MILAN 2014 biennial exercise of Navies at Port Blair. After a few manouvers at sea the ships formed up in a column and steamed past the Flag ship with men manning the side of the ship and presenting a traditional salute in the form of “man and cheer ship” to the presiding officer, The Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), Air Marshal PK Roy. 

17 Nations, including India, had come together in MILAN 2014 making it the biggest edition since its inception in 1995. The six day event started on 04th Feb and the past few days have seen the maritime forces of these nations come closer professionally and culturally cementing friendship and building confidence in interoperability. It was the first time that countries from the western IOR participated including two African nations viz Kenya and Tanzania; island nations of Mauritius, Maldives and Seychelles. It was also the first time that Philippines and Cambodia participated. 

AUS: Navy’s historic visit to Bangladesh

Armidale Class Patrol Boat HMAS Childers

The Armidale Class Patrol Boat HMAS Childers arrived at Chittagong, Bangladesh on Monday, 27 January in what is the first visit for many decades to the nation by the Royal Australian Navy, Acting Minister for Defence Senator George Brandis QC announced.

“As one of our Indian Ocean neighbours, Australia values its interaction with Bangladesh and this landmark visit is a significant milestone for our nations’ Navy-to-Navy relationship,” Senator Brandis said.

“With the globalisation of trade and commerce, both our nations are dependent on the sea. As a result, we have shared interests in maritime security, naval diplomacy and mitigating the effects of natural disasters with humanitarian aid and disaster response.

Think Tank: Regional architecture - IORA

By Anthony Bergin

Students of regional security architecture will now have another acronym to add to their lexicon. Last Friday the 20 member states of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), at its annual meeting held in Perth, changed the name of the group to the more pronounceable Indian Ocean Rim Association, (IORA). Ministers even agreed that there’ll be a new logo by year’s end.

Australia has taken over the chair of IORA for the next two years, with Indonesia as vice-chair. It’s the only body of its kind with a broad-based agenda and a membership that spans the Indian Ocean region.

There’s been some policy debate in recent years over the need to reinvigorate the IOR-ARC. It’s got six thematic themes: maritime safety and security, trade and investment, fisheries management, disaster relief management, academic and scientific and research exchanges, and tourism and cultural exchanges.

But the Association’s charter is somewhat vague and there’s been a weak commitment from member states, with their focus mainly on domestic issues. There’s been no real background in regional cooperation.