Team Herald
VEREM: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Wednesday, said that increased militarisation and surge of non-state actors were some of the key maritime challenges that need to be tackled.
She was speaking at the inaugural function of the Goa Maritime Conclave, which aims to bring together like-minded nations to evolve and formulate collective responses to emerging challenges in the maritime domain.
“Indian Ocean has been peaceful over the past few decades but the increased militarisation and surge of non-state actors were some of the key maritime challenges that need to be tackled. However, our collective decision to capitalise on this or not and how we counter the emerging challenges will significantly influence regional peace and security in the future,” Sitharaman said.
She added, “We have also witnessed extra-regional nations maintain a near permanent presence within the region on one pretext or the other. These countries which are extra regional are creating naval outposts as well as dual use infrastructure in the region. This sort of militarisation increases the complexities for countries of this region while non-state actors have been players in maritime zones since times immemorial but the current surge and the support which they received from certain states has made firm action imperative.”
The Defence Minister further said that the concept of non-state actors is not new and countries have been dealing with this issue, both on land and at sea. However, the recent surge in the number, juxtaposed with the support they enjoy from certain states, their enhanced reach, as well as access to resources, has brought the issue to the forefront and demands firm action.
Stressing on the increased vulnerability of coastal populations in India to natural disasters, the Defence Minister said the coastal regions are densely populated and suffer immense damage in the event of major natural calamities and the only way to gain access and to provide succour to the people is from the sea, therefore it is important to create structures that can cater to such circumstances.
“The progress achieved and the efforts to harness clean and renewable energy sources through off shore energy firms add a whole new dimension to possible economic and strategic impact of the ocean on countries of this region. India also follows a defence policy that acknowledges and respects sovereignty. Our co-operation initiatives, directing and enhancing maritime security are undertaken in consensus with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of the Sagar Mala project,” Sitharaman added.
She said that the impasse in international relationships is a product of many costs such as ideological differences, political insecurity, economic and technological dependency, inequitable access to resources besides other factors.
“The net impact of these differences is that trust deficits and tensions between nations continue to persist on account of perceived challenges. The Indian defence system is committed to safeguarding its maritime territories and interests but also make its capacities available to other countries,” she added.
The minister said that the sea bed has emerged as a futuristic and abundant source of relatively pure minerals, thereby adding to the ocean’s economic potential.
“The progress achieved, and the efforts to harness clean and renewable energy sources through off shore energy firms, add a whole new dimension to possible economic and strategic impact of the ocean on countries of this region,” Sitharaman said.
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More competition in Maritime domain: CNS
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Sunil Lanba on Wednesday said that decaying maritime disputes resolution mechanisms is resulting in fragile security situations at many places. “Maritime domain is witnessing increasing competition. In this environment, traditional maritime security concerns primarily appear to rise out of certain trust deficit between countries. Although conflict resolution mechanisms have been established to address concern between nations, undermining these institutions by unilateralism and maritime muscle flexing is resulting in fragile security situation at many places,” Lanba said addressing the gathering at the inauguration of Goa Maritime Conclave. He added, “Another emerging menace is illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and poaching and this is leading to over fishing as well as rapid deteriorating of the endangered maritime species. We need to take long term view on this.”
