‘Extremely pressing challenges’: Rajnath Singh flags hijackings, attacks in Arabian Sea

“India continues its proactive engagement and has been maintaining a sustained presence in the Region to ensure safety and security of all shipping, irrespective of the Flag on the ship and the nationality of the crew,” he said.

“It is our steadfast resolve to be the First Responder and the Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region, and for the peace, stability and prosperity of the wider Indo-Pacific,” the defence minister added.

The defence minister stated that even as there is optimism about the shared goodness of our human race, India is also alive to the dangers lurking in shadows.

“We prefer peace, and will do the utmost for its sake, but we will not shrink from countering any threat that undermines our collective well-being, piracy and trafficking included,” he said.

He said India will continue to play the role of a Vishwamitra—or a friend of the world, in forging meaningful partnerships that make the planet a connected and equitable habitat for humanity as a whole.

The defence minister said that the historical evolution of the role of Armed Forces when examined, reflects a transition from being tools of warfare and conquest only, to instruments of dominance by certain powers, and then evolving into military blocs.

He said today the Armed Forces of like-minded civilized countries have mostly become instruments for promotion of shared peace and prosperity.

He said in this evolution of the nature of Armed Forces, international military exercises have emerged as crucial mechanisms for fostering friendship, understanding, cooperation, and military interoperability among friendly nations within the framework of a democratic world order.

MILAN 2024, he added, is one such attempt to build the much-needed fraternal bonds across the oceans and mountains.

Speaking about MILAN-24, he said it would have been unimaginable in the past, as recent as 50-60 years ago, for navies from over 50 nations to convene in one location for purposes other than conflict.

“This remarkable progress reflects the evolving nature of humanity, which has made the navies of almost 50 nations to assemble here to understand each other, to learn from each other and more than that, to cooperate with each other,” he said.

Addressing the gathering, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said that from five IOR navies in 1995 to 50 navies across the Indo-Pacific today, MILAN reflects the growing stature and increasing importance of such collective and cooperative endeavours in the maritime domain.

He said MILAN 2024 has been carefully curated to provide an all-encompassing experience to our participants.

“While the International Maritime Seminar scheduled over the next two days will provide senior commanders a platform to exchange ideas on crucial maritime challenges and opportunities, our young officers have been honing their sailing, submarine rescue and damage control skills at training simulators here,” he said.

He said a MILAN Technical Exposition or MTEX has also been organised as part of the event to provide you a glimpse of India’s promising indigenous industry powered by the vibrant Start Up ecosystem and MSMEs.

Talking about the sea phase of the exercise beginning on February 24, where warships from various countries will participate in an array of operational drills, he said those are not merely naval exercises, but a testament to the collective expertise and strength we bring to the fore as maritime nations.