Enhancing India's maritime capabilities

What is the issue?

The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has long been significant and struggle for power in the region is gaining importance.
In this context, India must assess its maritime capabilities and respond with appropriate decisions.

How are the power equations changing in the IOR?

Control over the sea lanes of commerce played a very important part in earlier colonial years.

But this had started dwindling in later years, as colonisation began to give way.
US - The United States gradually took over the dominant roles in the IOR.
For the last 50 years, it has been the only nation with credible maritime power in the region.
Until two decades ago, even India was content to let the US act as the net security provider in the IOR.
China - Having become a major importer of energy from this region, China is also now seeking an IOR presence.
Towards this end, its ships and submarines have started making presence in these waters frequently.
While facilities such as refuelling and the like are available at most ports, these cannot equal the support that a base could offer.
So, China is seeking to set up facilities at Gwadar (Pakistan) and Djibouti (in the Horn of Africa), which could support 10,000 personnel each.
While none of them can be said to be bases, they will give China the IOR credibility that it could otherwise not have.
India - The Indian Ocean Region holds a key to India's security interests.
Operating facilities in Indo-Pacific countries are essential for increasing India's naval reach.
It is also essential for making India a credible maritime power.

How does the future look?

Countries are increasingly seeing support stations as vital for any meaningful operations at sea.
These are places where forces could be positioned, replenished and deployed for reasonably long durations.
Looked at holistically, in addition to the US, only China and India seem to hold considerable prospects to have some IOR capabilities.

China does have a good number of seagoing platforms, but presently not have the bases to enable their sustained operations.
On the other hand, India, with its regional presence, has the infrastructure but not the numbers.

What lies before India?

China - A hostile presence, especially of the Chinese, can put India's assets under great threat.
Contrarily, India can interdict Chinese supply lines, if needed, provided such capabilities are created.
India must therefore work on this line.
Indo-Pacific - India must also focus on mutually compatible engagement of the principal Indo-Pacific littorals.
These include, apart from the US, Japan and Australia many other less focussed countries which include -

While bases at these places might not be feasible, operating facilities which enhance reach and endurance are needed.
Besides, India must make up the deficiencies, especially of submarines, whose numbers have fallen considerably.
Ships which can transport desired forces across the seas are also important.
Above all, the decision-making processes should be speeded up to enhance appropriately our maritime capabilities.

Source: Business Standard