The Indian Navy has bolstered its warship presence near the Gulf of Oman to safeguard Indian-flagged vessels transiting from the Strait of Hormuz amidst escalating tensions in West Asia. Government sources revealed that Indian tankers are receiving naval escorts through the critical Strait of Hormuz, with ships like Shivalik, Nanda Devi, and Jag Ladki already reaching Indian ports safely under the Navy’s protection. This heightened deployment falls under the Navy’s “mission-based deployment” strategy, which has maintained a continuous warship presence near the Gulf of Oman since 2017, now further intensified due to current security concerns.
The number of warships in the region has been increased from one to an undisclosed figure, with a primary focus on ensuring the safe passage of Indian vessels through vulnerable maritime routes. Currently, 22 Indian ships are positioned west of the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the Navy’s commitment to maritime security. The mission-based deployment framework, operational since 2017, aims to fortify maritime security globally and respond promptly to emerging threats, with ongoing naval operations like “Operation Sankalp” in the Gulf of Oman and anti-piracy measures in the Gulf of Aden.
During an inter-ministerial briefing on the West Asia situation, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted the Indian Navy’s anti-piracy missions in the region and its support for various maritime security initiatives. The Ministry of Defence is expected to provide detailed insights into the Navy’s operational contributions. Apart from the Gulf of Oman and the Gulf of Aden, the Navy’s mission-based deployments extend to regions like Seychelles, the Maldives, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Bay of Bengal near the Myanmar-Bangladesh maritime zone, focusing on securing sea routes and combating piracy threats.
