Operation Sankalp

Following attacks on merchant ships within the Gulf of Oman in June 2019, the Indian Navy launched Maritime System Security, codenamed Op SANKALP, inside the Gulf Region on June 19, 2019, to secure the safe travel of Indian Flag Vessels traversing the Strait of Hormuz. Warships or aircraft from the Indian Navy were dispatched to create a foothold, provide confidence to Indian merchantmen, monitor the situation, and react to any emerging difficulties. For operations Sankalp, one warship is deployed overseas. The operation has been carried out in close collaboration with all stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Defence, External Affairs, the Ministry of Shipping, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, and the Director-General of Shipping. Inter-Ministerial discussions have been held regularly to assess the changing Maritime Security Situation within the Gulf.

India and Madagascar Exercise

Given a surge in Chinese naval activities in such areas, the Indian naval ship INS Shardul made a port call in Madagascar’s Antsiranana as part of increased patrols of the Indian Ocean in recent years. The port call was performed in “a non-contact mode or a virtual conference involving representatives of the Madagascar Armed Forces was held on March 23,” according to covid19 procedures. The combined exercise demonstrates the developing ties between the two countries’ marine forces. It is targeted at the common goals of guaranteeing maritime security for India and Madagascar and interoperability between the two fleets. In the Indian Ocean region, which New Delhi views as within its influence, Indian naval ships recently boosted their presence or patrols. In March 2019, when Cyclone Idai destroyed southern and eastern Africa, three Indian Navy ships supported Mozambique in emergency and recovery activities.

Malabar Exercise 2021

• It is a multilateral naval wargaming exercise that began in 1992. Malabar Exercise 2021 started as a bilateral exercise between India’s and US warships.
• There were two different versions of the exercise in 1995 and 1996, following which there was a gap until 2002, following India’s nuclear tests.
• The practice has been repeated every year since 2002.
• Japan and Australia were the first to participate in the exercise in 2007, while India, the United States, and Japan have contributed each year since 2014.
• On India’s demand, Australia joined the Malabar Exercise in 2020 to restrain China in the Indo-Pacific area.
• Malabar 2020 marked the involvement of all four Quad members for the first time in almost a decade.
• Its goal is to promote a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific while maintaining a commitment to an international regulations order.

Malabar 2021 Multilateral Maritime Exercise

The Indian Navy (IN) will join the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), as well as the United States Navy within the Second Phase of Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar (USN). From October 12 to 15, 2021, the exercise took place in the Bay of Bengal. The first stage of the exercises took place in the Philippines Sea from August 26 to August 29, 2021. INS Ranvijay, P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, INS Satpura and a Submarine participate in the Indian Navy’s ships. An aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, and the other two destroyers, the USS Lake Champlain and USS Stockdale, will represent the US Navy. JS Kaga or JS Murasame may represent the JMSDF. 

HMAS Ballarat but also HMAS Sirius will be representing the Royal Australian Navy. The Second Stage of the exercise should focus on the enhanced surface or anti-submarine warfare drills, seamanship evolution, including weapon firings, building here on synergy, and coordination, with cooperation gained during the First Phase. Since its inception in 1992 as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India and the United States, the Malabar series of exercises has grown in difficulty and depth. The 25th edition of MALABAR, held in two stages despite adhering to all protocols even during the COVID-19 epidemic, reflects the participants’ dedication to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international consensus.

Conclusion

Following an explosion on board two oil tankers within the Gulf of Oman amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States, Operation Sankalp was launched in June 2019. The Indian Navy’s Operation Sankalp has guaranteed safe travel to 16 Indian-flagged container ships each day in the Gulf region. Approximately 85% of India’s oil needs are met through imports. About 62% of India’s $66 billion in oil imports in 2019-2020 came from the Gulf area. Because of the current security scenario in the Persian Gulf, it is necessary to continue protecting Indian-flagged commerce vessels travelling through the region by demonstrating presence, escorting, or giving close support.