India Primary Guarantor of Peace and Stability in Indian Ocean Region: Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described India as the primary guarantor of peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), saying the Indian Navy plays a critical role in safeguarding the country’s maritime interests amid an increasingly complex global security environment.
Addressing naval personnel during the traditional Barakhana in Visakhapatnam on the eve of the commissioning of Mahendragiri, the sixth indigenous Project 17A stealth frigate, on Friday, Singh said the Navy was securing India’s maritime borders, protecting vital sea lanes, and defending the country’s strategic interests across the region.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, he noted that more than 90 per cent of India’s trade by volume moves through sea routes. He said the country’s energy security, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and island territories make maritime security vital to its economic growth and national interests. Against the backdrop of growing geopolitical competition and the increasing presence of extra-regional powers, he stressed the need for greater maritime vigilance.
Calling India the largest and most responsible stakeholder in the Indian Ocean Region, Singh reaffirmed the country’s commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and a secure maritime environment. “The region is our courtyard, and securing the courtyard is our responsibility,” he said.
The Defence Minister said the commissioning of Mahendragiri reflected India’s steady progress towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing and strengthened the country’s indigenous naval capabilities.
He also urged the armed forces to continuously upgrade their skills and embrace emerging technologies to meet the changing demands of modern warfare. Noting that future conflicts could take unconventional forms, including without formal declarations of war, Singh said soldiers must remain physically and mentally prepared for evolving security challenges.
Observing that future adversaries may differ significantly from those of the past, he reiterated the government’s commitment to equipping the armed forces with advanced weapons, technology, and other resources. At the same time, he emphasised that military success ultimately depends on the personnel operating those systems, saying, “Weapons alone do not win wars; it is the people who wield them that do.”
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, and other senior Indian Navy officers attended the event.