Visakhapatnam, April 3
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that the Indian Navy stands as the country’s first line of response in any regional emergency — whether that means evacuating citizens caught in conflict zones or delivering aid to disaster-struck communities — as it keeps watch across the breadth of the Indian Ocean.
Speaking on Friday at the ceremonial induction of warship INS Taragiri into the fleet at Visakhapatnam, Singh described a Navy that operates far beyond its traditional combat mandate, positioning itself as a constant and reliable presence from the oil-rich waters of the Persian Gulf to the strategically vital Malacca Strait.
“Our Navy, whether it is the Persian Gulf or the Malacca Strait, continuously maintains its presence in the Indian Ocean. Whenever any crisis arises, whether it is evacuation operations or providing humanitarian assistance, our Navy is always at the forefront,” he said.
The timing of his address was significant. Ongoing hostilities in West Asia have repeatedly threatened the flow of oil shipments and led to vessels being held or obstructed, putting renewed pressure on the sea lanes through which much of Asia’s energy supply passes.
Singh underscored just how exposed India is to such disruptions, noting that roughly 95% of the country’s overall trade — including the bulk of its energy requirements — is carried across the seas. That dependence, he argued, makes maritime security not a peripheral concern but one sitting at the very heart of national interest.
He credited the Navy with having repeatedly stepped in to shield Indian merchant vessels and oil tankers during periods of heightened tension, and said its reach and resolve had been demonstrated well beyond Indian waters.
Describing the force in broader terms, Singh said the Navy reflected something deeper than military capability alone.
“Our Navy is a symbol of India’s values and commitment. The commissioning of INS Taragiri will further strengthen our Navy’s power, values, and commitment,” he said.
He drew on the lessons of history to press his case, arguing that nations which have neglected sea power have consistently paid a price for it. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi having set the target of a fully developed India by 2047, Singh said the strength of the country’s naval forces would be central to realising that ambition.
“A strong and capable navy is not an option for the country — it is a necessity,” he said.
INS Taragiri, a guided-missile frigate built under India’s domestic warship construction programme, represents the latest step in an accelerating drive to expand and modernise the Indian Navy as competition for influence across the Indo-Pacific continues to intensify.
