Anshu Meghe
India's Maritime Dominance: Safeguarding Commerce and Stability in the Indian Ocean
Far beyond India's western shores, the Indian Navy (IN) stands as a guardian of global trade in the bustling waters of the Gulf of Aden. Since December 2023, this force has undertaken its largest and most decisive deployment ever. It has rescued over 18 commercial vessels from the clutches of piracy—most notably from those affiliated with the Somali Al Shabab. Operating in the strategic confluence of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, the Navy's robust presence underscores its growing prowess in projecting power across the vast oceans and solidifying its stature as a principal security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Amidst the backdrop of an increasingly assertive China, these operations do more than safeguard waters; they signal the maturity of an Indian strategic vision that has been over two decades in the making. With each successful mission, the Indian Navy not only earns global accolades but also cements India's role as a rising major power within the intricate geopolitical tapestry of the Indo-Pacific, offering both a stern warning to its competitors and a promise of stability to its partners.
Combating Piracy in the Western Indian Ocean
Amidst the internal conflicts and civil wars plaguing Yemen and Somalia, these nations have become fertile grounds for non-state actors engaging in piracy in the Gulf of Aden. With the U.S. and UK ground resources preoccupied by the Houthi rebels, who escalated their maritime attacks in response to Israeli operations against Hamas, global shipping routes near Bab el Mandeb in the Red Sea have been significantly disrupted. This has forced major shipping lanes to reroute around the African continent, inflating shipping costs considerably. Capitalizing on the Western naval focus on the Red Sea, Somali pirates have intensified their activities, attempting over 20 hijackings since November and exacerbating the crisis for global shipping by driving up insurance and security costs. This situation has revived piracy by Somali groups, which had seen a decline after 2017.
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