Karwar, April 5: In a significant boost to regional maritime cooperation and naval capability, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh flagged off Indian Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel INS Sunayna as the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR — Security and Growth for All in the Region — from Karwar, Karnataka today.
The vessel, crewed by 44 naval personnel from nine friendly nations — Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania — marks a new chapter in India’s commitment to collective maritime security and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
“This initiative is a reflection of our resolve for peace, prosperity, and collective security in the maritime domain,” said Shri Rajnath Singh while addressing naval representatives from partner nations. “Our Navy ensures that no nation in the IOR is suppressed on the basis of overwhelming economic or military power. We protect sovereignty and foster equality among maritime neighbors.”
He lauded the Indian Navy’s role as the first responder during piracy and maritime security incidents in the region, stressing that India is committed to free navigation, rule-based order, and shared peace. “The Indian Navy, equipped with state-of-the-art platforms and highly trained personnel, is fostering security not just for Indian ships but for vessels of all friendly nations,” he said.
Coinciding with National Maritime Day and the 10th anniversary of the SAGAR doctrine, the launch also aligns with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s recently unveiled MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), an evolved vision to deepen maritime cooperation.
“It is a proud moment to witness India leading the charge for regional maritime collaboration on the very day we mark our maritime legacy, when the first Indian merchant ship SS Loyalty sailed in 1919,” Rajnath Singh noted.
The IOS SAGAR mission aims to train sea-riders from participating nations onboard INS Sunayna, fostering interoperability through joint drills on firefighting, damage control, bridge operations, engine room management, and other seamanship skills.
During its deployment, Sunayna will make port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, and Port Victoria, acting as a symbol of India’s inclusive maritime diplomacy and its resolve to build a stable IOR.
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