Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India stands firm as a “First Responder, Preferred Security Partner” and a symbol of trust and reliability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), as the country’s strategic position and responsibilities in the region continue to grow.

Addressing the second edition of the Indian Navy’s biannual Commanders’ Conference at Nausena Bhawan on September 29, 2026, Singh said the maritime domain had become increasingly complex due to congestion, deception and “gray-zone” activities, requiring India to strengthen its monitoring and response mechanisms.

“Today, issues such as congestion, deception, and gray-zone activities have made our maritime domain far more complex than ever before. We must elevate our monitoring and response mechanisms to a new level,” he said.

The presence of Indian warships in the South China Sea, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean demonstrates the country’s blue-water naval capabilities and underscores the Indian Navy’s role in ensuring strategic depth and regional power projection, the Defence Ministry said.

“The Indian Navy serves as a strategic anchor in the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’. Beyond merely guarding maritime boundaries, our Navy strengthens economic protection, regional stability, and power projection,” Singh said.

The Defence Minister lauded the Indian Navy’s ‘Operation Urja Suraksha’, describing it as an outstanding achievement. He noted that India imports approximately 85–90 per cent of its crude oil and around 50 per cent of its natural gas through maritime routes, making the security of sea lanes critical to the country’s economy, energy security and defence preparedness.

Highlighting the Navy’s efforts towards achieving self-reliance in defence production, the Minister said India’s warship-building ecosystem was now meeting global benchmarks. Warships commissioned recently have more than 75 per cent indigenous content, he said, adding that India should aim not only to meet its own requirements but also export warships to friendly foreign countries.

Singh also called for a significant upgrade of India’s maritime surveillance architecture, noting that the growing volume and complexity of maritime traffic require enhanced analytical capabilities.

He said 2026 would be a historic year for the Indian Navy, with plans for the induction or commissioning of 18 warships, which would represent the largest single-year force accretion in the Navy’s history.

The Defence Minister commended the Navy for its efforts towards women’s empowerment, recruitment and innovation under the “All Ranks, All Roles” approach. He highlighted the deployment of women officers on frontline warships and aircraft, as well as their participation in naval navigational expeditions, including the Navika Sagar Parikrama voyage.

On the Indian Navy assuming command of Combined Task Force-154, Singh described it as an important contribution to regional cooperative security. He highlighted ‘Operation Southern Readiness’, conducted in Kochi during the Navy’s tenure, which involved 276 personnel from 27 countries, 76 facilitators and subject-matter experts, and four international organisations.

He said the deployment of INS Sudarshini for ‘Lokayan-26’ had strengthened India’s maritime diplomacy and engagement with the Indian diaspora across the United States, Atlantic and Mediterranean regions, while also showcasing the country’s maritime heritage.

Singh reaffirmed the government’s support for the Indian Navy, stating that India’s maritime power was aimed not merely at displaying the national flag at sea, but at ensuring that wherever the Tricolour is seen, it conveys security, trust and confidence.

“If the seas are secure, India will be secure; and if India is secure, the resolve for a Viksit Bharat will be further strengthened,” he said.