Defence Minister reviews operational readiness of Indian Navy at ENC in Visakhapatnam

Defence Minister reviews operational readiness of Indian Navy at ENC in Visakhapatnam. Focus will be on further strengthening maritime security and making the presence of India’s naval power in IOR more effective and robust, says Rajnath Singh.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) in Visakhapatnam on June 14 (Friday) to review the operational readiness of the Indian Navy and embarked on INS Jalashwa for a ‘Day at Sea’.

It was Mr. Singh’s first outstation visit after assuming charge as Defence Minister for the second consecutive term.

During the ‘Day at Sea’, he witnessed the dynamic operations of various ships, submarine and aircraft of the ENC. He was accompanied by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar.

Interacting with the officers and sailors of the Eastern Fleet, Mr. Rajnath Singh commended the Indian Navy for being operationally ready, and emerging as the first responder in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

“Our Navy ensures that no nation suppresses another in the Indo-Pacific region, or endangers its strategic autonomy on the basis of economic strength or military power. This is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), wherein our friendly countries in the region remain safe and move forward together on the path of mutual progress,” he said.

He credited the Indian Navy for playing a crucial role in the country’s growth and raising its stature on the international stage. He made special mention of the Navy’s daring rescue operation in the Arabian Sea in March 2024, when it freed 23 Pakistani nationals from Somali pirates. This operation, he said, was a demonstration of humanity as well as the values imbibed in the Naval personnel, who come to the aid of everyone, irrespective of their nationality.

“It is a matter of great pride that our Navy is ensuring safe trade and promoting peace and prosperity in the IOR. Securing free navigation, rule-based world order, anti-piracy and peace and stability in the region are our biggest objectives. The Navy is playing a crucial role in fulfilling them. India, with its increasing power, is committed to making the region as well as the entire world peaceful and prosperous,” said Mr. Rajnath Singh.