Rajnath Singh Affirms India's Commitment to Sovereignty in the Indian Ocean Region, Countering Hegemony

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized on Tuesday that India is committed to preventing any form of hegemony by powerful economic and military forces in the Indian Ocean region, particularly alluding to the challenges posed by China's military expansion. Speaking at an event in Goa, Singh reiterated that India's maritime strength is aimed at fostering peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific rather than seeking dominance.

Singh highlighted India's efforts to bolster the rules-based maritime order in the Indian Ocean, ensuring the autonomy and sovereignty of neighboring countries. He inaugurated a new training facility at the Naval War College in Goa and virtually dedicated infrastructure projects at the strategic Karwar naval base. Singh emphasized the importance of readiness in dealing with threats such as attacks on undersea cables.

The infrastructure projects at the Karwar base, part of phase IIA expansion under project 'Seabird', include major piers capable of accommodating aircraft carriers and landing ships. Singh commended the Navy for its anti-piracy and anti-trafficking operations, emphasizing the role of naval power in protecting the region from adversaries and providing security to stakeholders.

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India has reassessed its threat perception, shifting focus from land borders to maritime security in response to increased adversarial activity in the Indian Ocean Region. Singh reiterated India's commitment to strengthening economic and security cooperation with maritime neighbors under the Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision.

Singh also discussed the significance of the Indo-Pacific region for India's prosperity and the strategic importance of projects like Seabird. He unveiled the new training facility named 'Chola' at the Naval War College, symbolizing India's maritime heritage and aspirations.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar highlighted evolving security challenges in the maritime domain and emphasized the role of higher military education in addressing them. He expressed confidence that the new training facility would serve as a center for maritime learning and collaboration, not only for Indian forces but also for maritime neighbors.