Boosting our maritime capabilities crucial: NSA
NEW DELHI: The strengthening of India’s maritime capabilities is crucial to cope with growing competition and potential clashes in the Indian Ocean, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said on Thursday.
Seamless coordination between agencies responsible for protecting maritime interests is also necessary for bolstering India’s maritime security apparatus, Doval said in his opening remarks at the first meeting of the Multi-Agency Maritime Security Group (MAMSG). India’s responsibility as a leading maritime power is important and this stature requires a strong maritime apparatus, he said.
The meeting, which brought together senior officials from all 13 coastal states and Union territories, the Indian Navy and several central agencies, was chaired by national maritime security coordinator, vice admiral (retired) G Ashok Kumar. Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar was in attendance too. Doval described the Indian Ocean as a “great asset” of India and said the country’s vulnerabilities are proportional to its assets.
Referring to the changing geopolitical scenario, he said: “The Indian ocean, which has been an ocean of peace, is gradually becoming competitive.” “We see a potential of having a clash of interest, we need to protect it and be vigilant,” he added. Doval further said, “The more we develop, the more assets we create, the more prosperous we get, the greater would be the vulnerability and the need for security in the maritime domain.”
The NSA emphasised the need for seamless coordination between different agencies since maritime security has acquired greater importance in an increasingly complex and challenging landscape. “The trajectory of this nation is well defined. We know where we are going. And when our time comes…we as a nation have to be strong. India will not be able to become the power it deserves to be unless it has a very strong maritime system,”he said.