A key strategy paper on how to implement the national maritime security doctrine will be deliberated by Indian Navy commanders during the Navy Commanders conference to be held in the national capital from April 14.
Attended by all Navy commanders, the conference also hosts top Army and IAF officials depending on the agenda and in keeping with the ongoing national effort to integrate India’s three armed forces.
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This occupies immense significance amid the conflict between the US and Iran and its subsequent fallout that has the global economy in turmoil even as the maritime domain is in a state of disarray.
A top military source told THE WEEK during the second edition of the Tri-Service seminar ‘Ran Samwad’: “The doctrine is already ready. A strategy paper on how to implement it will be placed before the Navy commanders during the conference of commanders.” The source spoke on condition of anonymity. Before 2025, the earlier versions of the doctrine were framed in 2004, 2009, and 2015.
During his address during the event, Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said: “We are keeping a hawk’s eye on all operations in the Indian Ocean. We have been monitoring exactly how many strikes US aircraft carriers are conducting.”
The US-Iran conflict has in particular impacted the key Hormuz Strait which is a critical waterway for energy trade and movement of ships and tankers carrying oil.
The two-day ‘Ran Samwad’ event is being held at the Air Force Training Command, Bengaluru, with the core focus of building a roadmap for preparing the Indian military for multi domain operations (MDO), encompassing the land, air, sea, cyber, space and cognitive domains.
The source added that the doctrine is being defined by the existing era of “No War, No Peace” that will address grey-zone threats and in alignment with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision for national maritime security.
Iran’s threat to strike out at vessels sailing through the narrow strait has resulted in about 1,000 ships being stuck in the Persian Gulf region raising concerns in the global supply chains and energy markets while maritime war-risk insurance premiums have surged hugely.
About half of India’s crude oil imports and almost complete LPG imports pass through the Hormuz Strait.