New Delhi, Apr 15: Top commanders of the Indian Navy carried out a comprehensive review of the maritime security framework and the implications of the West Asia crisis in the context of safeguarding the country’s energy security at a key conclave.
Chief of the Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan interacted with the naval commanders on matters pertaining to changing geopolitical orders and urged the Navy to plan for a rapidly evolving character of war, including economic and technological factors.
The biannual naval commanders conference began on Tuesday in New Delhi and will conclude on Thursday.
In his address, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi commended the force’s achievements in safeguarding India’s maritime interests, including energy security amidst the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
He also underlined the Navy’s continuing focus on combat readiness and adapting emerging technologies to build a future-ready force.
Admiral Tripathi reiterated the Navy’s commitments in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond in the emerging geostrategic scenario, and the significance of a cohesive and credible approach through proactive engagements with friendly foreign countries (FFCs) in multilateral and bilateral exercises, the Navy said.
The commanders also deliberated on issues pertaining to jointness, capability enhancement, maintenance and refits, multi-domain safety practices, training, foreign cooperation and those related to human resources and indigenisation.
It is learnt that the commanders also discussed naval deployments to safeguard India’s energy security amidst the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
For the last several years, the Indian Navy has been escorting Indian-flagged merchant vessels, specifically those carrying crude oil and natural gas, to ensure their safe passage through the Gulf of Oman.
The naval commanders’ conference serves as a platform for close interaction with national leadership, setting a strategic direction for the naval plans.
