Press Release
Embassy of India
Doha
PRESS RELEASE
A Talk by Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command at the
Middle East Naval Commanders Conference [MENC] held at the ongoing DIMDEX 2016 on 30 March, 2016
Salience of Maritime Domain in the Security Architecture of the Arabian Sea and Adjoining Areas – an Indian Navy Perspective
Introduction
1. His Excellency Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces, His Excellency Commander of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces, distinguished Heads of Delegations, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
2. It is indeed a distinct honour and a proud privilege for me to be present here and share my views at the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference. I must thank the organisers of DIMDEX 2016 and Qatar Armed Forces for extending me the honour of addressing this august gathering. The participants of this conference represent not only the military leadership of the Middle East and North African region, but also the collective naval leadership of the Indian Ocean Region and the wisdom of maritime experts from around the globe.
3. The fifth edition of DIMDEX, and today’s conference come at a time when warm and cordial relations between India and the Middle East are stronger than ever before. Our strong civilisational linkages go back thousands of years. It is of particular significance that the strong bonds between our two civilisations are mainly ascribed to sea borne regional trade and commerce that flourished through the medium of the global commons of the region and theinteraction between our peoples, for ages. This region constitutes India’s immediate neighbourhood, with the waters of the Arabian Sea washing the shores on either side. We are indeed united through the sea and India has a vital stake in the security and stability of this region.
Historical Significance of the Arabian Sea
4. In India’s immediate maritime environment, the Arabian Sea has played an eminent role in the evolution of mankind. World’s earliest civilisations thrived in the littorals surrounding the Arabian Sea, and in its adjoining areas including the river basins of Nile, Euphrates, Tigris and Indus. These ancient civilisations evolved into vibrant societies of the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent. Major religions that originated in this region spread mainly through the sea routes to other parts of the world.
5. The Arabian Sea has also been central to international trade and global economic political affairs for several millennia. Hindered by the Himalayan barriers on land, the Arabian Sea provided easier avenues for extensive interaction among our civilisations. Maritime commerce flourished among the littorals of the Arabian Sea, with extensive trade linkages between India and the Middle East region. Thus, through the ages, the Arabian Sea emerged as a melting pot of different societies and cultures. The inherent natural wealth of the Arabian Sea littorals attracted extra-regional powers to this region. The arrival of Europeans on Indian shores in the late 15th century, initiated an imperial race that led to European powers jostling for influence and domination, ultimately resulting in colonisation of this region.
Importance of Arabian Sea and its littorals in the 21st Century
6. The dependence on the seas for global trade and commerce continues to rise in the 21st century, even as we increasingly look towards the seas for resources, fisheries and livelihood, in our bid to encash the Blue Economy. There is an evident shift in world’s focus towards the maritime domain. At the same time, globalisation and sustained economic progress of several Asian nations have emphasised the geo-strategic significance of Arabian Sea littorals. Therefore, today this region commands increasing attention and focus of the international community.
7. Notwithstanding the discovery of unconventional energy sources in many other parts of the world, the Middle East continues to be the world’s largest oil producing region, with more than 50% of world’s total oil reserves. The region’s rich hydrocarbon reserves fuel the global economy, thus retaining it as the Centre of Gravity of global energy security. With more than 17 million barrels of oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz, it is the world’s largest oil transit Choke Point. A large percentage of this oil is meant for nations beyond the Indian Ocean Region, both to the East and West. The Middle East is thus a prime facilitator of global economic growth. Security and stability in this region, and its maritime domain is therefore of vital significance for all nations of the world.
Rise in Threats and Challenges in the Maritime Domain
8. At the same time, developments in the post-Cold War period have heralded a new era of geo-political instabilities, which has facilitated the spread of radicalism, terrorism and trans-national crimes.Resource competition and energy security, combined with geo-political instabilities have moved the Arabian Sea and its adjoining areas further to the centre of global geo-strategic agenda.
9. Security issues originating on land, unless resolved, frequently transgress into the maritime domain. Majority of these security issues do not recognise international maritime borders. Unless checked, the contiguity, connectivity and the homogeneous character of the seas enable these security issues to proliferate to adjoining areas through the maritime domain. The current century is witnessing a proliferation of non-traditional threats in the maritime domain. Primary amongst these being terrorism, piracy, drug, arms and human trafficking, environmental security issues, and natural disasters.
10. To complicate matters further, there has been an increasing blurring of lines between traditional and non-traditional challenges. This development is redefining the nature of international security. These challenges have necessitated changes in maritime strategies, force structures, operating methodology, training and cooperative mechanisms.
IN Maritime Strategy to Address Non-Traditional Threats
11. In India’s perspective, threats and challenges in the maritime domain can be addressed effectively by building a Favourable and Positive Maritime Environment, to enhance Net Maritime Security in the region. A favourable maritime environment would preserve peace, promote stability, maintain security, and thereby facilitate trade, commerce and cooperation.Accordingly, the Indian Navy is re-aligning its operating philosophy and seeking to make effective contributions to global and regional collective response mechanisms.
12. Indian Navy’s efforts to shape maritime stability are exemplified by continuous deployment of our ships in the Gulf of Aden since 2008 to counter maritime piracy. Cooperative actions by state agencies, maritime forces and industry have succeeded in curbing piracy off Somalia. The fact that there have been no piracy incidents anywhere in the Arabian Sea since 2013 showcases the latent potential of maritime cooperation.
13. Effective information exchange and transparency of the seas are primary pre-requisites to counter the varied threats in the maritime domain. Developing and enhancing Regional Maritime Domain Awareness or MDA has therefore seen several navies taking cooperative steps. India has developed a Coastal Surveillance Radar System chain to augment the extent of information bubble around our continental landmass and island territories. We are also cooperating with island nations in the Indian Ocean to develop similar facilities, thereby enhancing the awareness and information envelope around respective areas of various stakeholders. Sharing and interlinking the radar, AIS and white shipping information has enabled integration of individual information bubbles to facilitate a broader comprehensive MDA across the region, which in turn furthers both marine safety and maritime security.
14. India’s vision for its maritime neighbourhood was clearly enunciated by our Hon’ble Prime Minister last year, in the acronym SAGAR – which means Security And Growth for All in the Region. Over the years, the Indian Navy has been taking initiatives for assisting incapability development and capacity enhancement of the smaller maritime forces of the region through training, technology support, hydrographic assistance, and provision of surface and airborne assets.
15. We have also enhanced our presence in our coastal areas and the Exclusive Economic Zones along with our maritime partners, to counter the threats of maritime terrorism, curb Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing, human and drug trafficking, and other non-traditional maritime challenges.
16. The vagaries of climate change have led to an increase in frequency and intensity of natural disasters. The Tsunami of 2004 caused extensive damage to life and property. The mounting of relief operations and rehabilitation work clearly demonstrated how navies with diverse operating philosophies could cooperate and work together for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. The 2004 disaster also underscored an immediate requirement for nations to cooperate in evolving a robust collective mechanism, to foresee and respond to any future calamity in the region. As many as 27 ships of the Indian Navy had sailed to different areas of India and neighbouring countries, struck by Tsunami, for relief operations.
17. More recently, the Indian Navy successfully evacuated Indian and foreign citizens from conflict zones of Lebanon and Yemen. The high degree of effectiveness of our actions was possible only because of active cooperation of the governments and security agencies of many Middle East nations, whose representatives are also present here today. These missions indicate our willingness and collective resolve to preserve the safety and security of the seas in the region.
Strategy to Counter Maritime Threats and Challenges
18. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is evident today that globalisation has increased the vulnerability of oceans. Much as we would like the seas to remain a benign medium, the potential of vessels at sea being turned to be a source of threat cannot be ruled out and thus, we need to be ready. It is not feasible for any single nation or navy to counter the myriad security threats facing our region’s maritime domain. This requires a collective and cooperative response by all stakeholders. Operating in international waters or the high seas, where there are no boundaries but numerous threats and challenges, demands cooperation between navies and other security agencies.
19. Our collective experience of the last few decades has also demonstrated that lasting peace and stability can best be ensured by regional maritime forces. Threats in the maritime domain therefore need to be met through regional efforts, coordinated by a regional entity. There is an emergent need for maritime forces of the region to contribute to security operations in the region, and re-align their maritime strategies to counter the rise in maritime threats and challenges.
20. It is also vital that regional navies with adequate capacity and experience contribute in regional capability development. We need to develop regional architectures to discuss and develop cooperative measures. The Indian Navy’s initiative of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) that took shape in 2008 has grown significantly in size as well as scope. We view the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference as a significant contributor to furthering such dialogues between regional maritime agencies. I take this opportunity to complement and acknowledge this present initiative for enhancing regional maritime cooperation among all littorals of the Arabian Sea and adjoining areas.
21. Before I conclude, I would once again reiterate that increasing instabilities on land, and the growing vulnerabilities in the Arabian Sea present unique challenges to the region’s maritime forces. It is incumbent on navies of the region to adapt and evolve to counter contemporary threats, even as we prepare for future challenges to humankind.
22. Security and stability in the maritime domain is the shared responsibility of all coastal states. It is therefore vital that we establish cooperative mechanisms and contribute towards sustained peace and stability of the maritime domain. It is indeed our collective responsibility to ensure that we hand over a better, more secure maritime environment to future generations, which will facilitate unhindered economic growth of our nations, and this region.
23. Thank You.
