Context:
The Indian Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) INS Sunayna has set sail from Karwar under the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative, symbolizing India’s growing commitment to regional maritime cooperation and security in the Southwest Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Mission Overview: IOS SAGAR
- Full Form: Security and Growth for All in the Region
- Flagged off by: Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh
- Departure Point: Karwar Naval Base
- Vessel: INS Sunayna, an Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Indian Navy
- Crew: Includes 44 naval personnel from 9 Friendly Foreign Nations (FFNs)
Purpose and Strategic Significance
- Reinforces India’s leadership role in promoting maritime stability in the IOR
- Provides comprehensive naval training and enhances interoperability with participating foreign navies
- Aims to build shared maritime capabilities and promote collaborative security frameworks
Key Port Calls
- Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania)
- Nacala (Mozambique)
- Port Louis (Mauritius)
- Port Victoria (Seychelles)
Strategic Impact
- IOS SAGAR enhances India’s strategic outreach in the Indo-Pacific
- It supports a secure, stable, and inclusive maritime architecture
- Demonstrates India’s ability to lead capacity-building initiatives for smaller navies in the region
- Serves as a platform for multilateral collaboration in tackling regional maritime threats like piracy, trafficking, and illegal fishing
INS Sunayna’s deployment under IOS SAGAR showcases India’s vision of “Security and Growth for All in the Region” and its resolve to become a net security provider in the IOR. The mission is a testament to India’s strategic diplomacy, fostering friendship, training, and trust across Indian Ocean littorals
