With China, increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and having access to the Gwadar Port in southern Pakistan and a naval base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, senior Indian Naval commanders held a meeting to discuss and deliberate on the evolving maritime security and the border row with China in eastern Ladakh at a three-day conclave beginning Wednesday (July 19).
The Indian Navy conclave has the responsibility to review the Navy’s operational readiness from IOR and India’s security interests in the Indo-Pacific region where China has been rapidly expanding its military presence.
India has deployed its frontline warships and submarines in the IOR to send a clear message to China that it cannot be bullied.
In a navy statement that read, “The conference assumes greater significance in the backdrop of recent events on our northern borders, coupled with the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19″.
One of the aspects of this conclave will be to, “discuss upon the ways to optimise joint planning structures, tri-service synergy, and operational readiness, as also functional reorganisation within the Indian Navy to improve efficiency,”.
Another important part of this meeting will be to discuss the conduct of operations, sustenance and maintenance of assets, procurement issues, infrastructure development and human resource management within the ambit of the “new normal” resulted by the pandemic.
“The Chief of the Naval Staff, with the commanders-in-chief, will review major operational, materiel, logistics, human resource, training and administrative activities undertaken during the year.