After the huge success of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Defense Ministers’ Conclave held in February 2021, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh organized the IOR+ Defense Ministers’ Conclave on the sidelines of the 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on 19 October 2022. 40 countries participated in the conclave , 22 ministers spoke at the conference, some of them in hybrid mode. The broad theme was “Challenges, Opportunities and Cooperation in the Indian Ocean”. He facilitated a dialogue aimed at promoting a stable and peaceful Indian Ocean with strategic and trade partnerships within the IOR, in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
Delivering the keynote address, Shri Rajnath Singh termed the conclave as an initiative to promote dialogue in an institutional and cooperative environment that can promote peace, stability and prosperity in the IOR. He said that this forum was named IOR+ because the idea behind this conclave is shared responsibility and prosperity. “We believe in a multi-stakeholder policy that is implemented through multi-stakeholder collaboration so that everyone’s views and concerns can be discussed and addressed for a prosperous future for all. India is willing to work with all stakeholders to ensure a rules-based maritime order for the benefit of all in the region,” he said.
SAGAR theme of New Delhi’s Indian Ocean policy
Raksha Mantri described the Prime Minister’s vision for SAGAR as the theme of New Delhi’s Indian Ocean policy. He quoted the Prime Minister as saying, “Our vision for the Indian Ocean region is rooted in deepening cooperation in our region and leveraging our capabilities for the benefit of all in our shared maritime home”. Shri Rajnath Singh quoted Martin Luther King Junior’s saying “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”, stating that it has the greatest relevance in this era of high connectivity and interdependence. “When the peace and security of any region is threatened, the whole world feels its impact in many ways. The recent Ukrainian conflict showed how its ripple effects could adversely affect the energy and food security of the most vulnerable countries.
Similarly, failing states pose a challenge not only to their region but also to the world as a whole, as these states can act as nurseries for terrorism, piracy and human trafficking. We believe that engaging our partner countries through forums such as this allows us to mutually appreciate each other’s concerns and helps create a global order that benefits us all,” he said.
Five ‘S’ vision of PM Modi
Raksha Mantri called for concerted efforts to address current and emerging threats to security and stability in the IOR. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has already outlined India’s commitment and vision to address global issues in his dynamic vision of five ‘S’ which includes Samman, Samvaad, Sahyog, Shanti and Samriddhi (Respect, Dialogue, Cooperation, Peace and Prosperity). . Shri Rajnath Singh expressed India’s determination to play a responsible role and contribute to regional and global security. “We have demonstrated our commitment in both organizational and operational aspects at the various bilateral and multilateral fora of the IOR and look forward to continuing our commitment to ensure that the region takes its rightful place as a driver of the global economy in the near future. ” he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh listed common challenges in the IOR such as proliferation of terrorism through sea lanes, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, piracy and regional and global food security. He asserted that terrorism, balanced, supported or coordinated through sea lanes, remains a major concern and India continues to resist the spread of the threat. He appreciated the fact that piracy had been suppressed in the Western Indian Ocean through coordinated international efforts and sustained efforts must continue to deter the menace.
Regarding illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, Raksha Mantri called for a multinational effort to compile, collect and share monitoring data collected from various sources, i.e. satellites, radars, reconnaissance aircraft or human intelligence. It will help identify actors with erratic or threatening behavior that will then need to be dealt with forcefully, he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh reiterated that India unequivocally rejects any hierarchical concept of global order and claims of moral superiority in international relations. He asserted that Delhi believes in a global order based on mutual respect and benefit of each country. “We do not subscribe to the paradigm of zero-sum strategic competition. Rather, we believe in a mutually beneficial paradigm of international relations. India looks forward to working with government, business and academia representatives of our partner countries to promote cooperation and closer interaction among nations in pursuit of peace and stability in the IOR,” he said.
Raksha Mantri termed the sustainable use of marine resources as an important vehicle for the growth and development of nations across the IOR in the 21st century. He called for concerted efforts to ensure that the Indian Ocean maritime region is peaceful and optimally utilized to ensure regional and global food security. “We have demonstrated our respect for the rules-based order and continue to emphasize the need to cultivate the Indian Ocean as an area of peace and stability. We would like to reiterate that interdependence instead of dominance is the only way to keep this important trade and energy waterway stable.
With half of the world’s container shipping, one-third of its bulk shipping and two-thirds of its crude oil shipments passing through it, the IOR clearly occupies a very important place in our international affairs,” he said. Shri Rajnath Singh reiterated the Government’s commitment to build capacity of partner countries by providing ships, naval aircraft, coastal radars and other surveillance systems, training, access to Indian shipyards and availability of trained manpower for indigenous development of similar capabilities. He said that the aerospace and defense sector in India has come a long way, with the private and public sectors leading the way in developing state-of-the-art technologies.
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