Indian Navy Units being Deployed in Djibouti, Gulf of Aden, East Coast of Somalia

Defense News ,India :- In a statement on Friday, the defense ministry revealed that Indian Navy units are strategically stationed in Djibouti, the Gulf of Aden, the East Coast of Somalia, as well as the North and Central Arabian Sea. The primary objective is to safeguard merchant vessels amid the prevailing regional maritime security challenges, according to Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt.

Bhatt, speaking in the Lok Sabha, highlighted the Navy's continuous efforts in the Gulf of Aden and along the East coast of Africa since 2008, primarily for anti-piracy patrols. Notably, over 3,440 ships and more than 25,000 seafarers have been successfully escorted during these operations.

The article emphasizes the growing global concerns over attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi militants since November, likely in response to Israel's military actions in Gaza. In response to this, Bhatt mentioned that the Navy is actively collaborating with friendly foreign nations to identify the sources and players involved in these attacks.

Recent weeks have seen the Indian Navy providing assistance to numerous merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea following attacks. Bhatt emphasized that the Navy is proactively engaging with both regional and extra-regional navies and maritime forces to enhance security in the Indian Ocean region.

Bhatt also underscored the Navy's commitment to mission-based deployments in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) since 2008, with units regularly engaged in anti-piracy patrols. These deployments aim to enhance maritime security, conduct surveillance for increased maritime domain awareness, and address potential contingencies.

Moreover, Bhatt highlighted the role of the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), which has established linkages with 25 partner nations and over 40 international multinational organizations. This collaborative effort facilitates real-time information exchange to bolster maritime security in the region.

In conclusion, Bhatt reiterated that, given the ongoing maritime security situation, Indian Navy units are strategically deployed in critical areas like Djibouti, the Gulf of Aden, the North and Central Arabian Sea, and off the East Coast of Somalia. This deployment is aimed at protecting merchant vessels and providing necessary assistance as required. Additionally, information exchange and intelligence sharing with friendly foreign countries remain integral to identifying the sources and reasons behind maritime incidents and attacks.