Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday called for diversified supply chains, reliable maritime infrastructure and stronger regional cooperation to address growing strains in the global maritime security environment.
Delivering the commemorative address at the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2026 in New Delhi, Singh said countries must strengthen their ability to anticipate, withstand and recover from disruptions while making maritime interdependence more secure.
“The global maritime security environment is strained by deliberate trade disruptions. We see blatant challenges to the freedom of navigation and the weaponisation of narrow maritime passages,” he said.
Describing oceans as bridges between nations and civilisations, Singh highlighted their role in sustaining livelihoods and enabling trade and the exchange of knowledge and culture. He said certain actors and countries were seeking to exploit the importance of oceans for narrow unilateral gains.
The response to these vulnerabilities should be greater resilience, he said, adding that globalisation could not be abandoned after every disruption, nor should maritime spaces be closed.
Singh said maritime security must adapt to threats extending beyond conventional military activity to piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing, cyberattacks and natural disasters.
Artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, new sensors, advanced materials, biotechnology and data analytics were opening opportunities for maritime surveillance, operations and research, he said. Their value, however, depended on their application to practical challenges.
The minister cautioned that technology must not deepen inequalities among Indo-Pacific countries, which have differing levels of scientific infrastructure, institutional capacity and skilled personnel.
“If technological progress benefits only a limited number of countries, we will not achieve the collective resilience that our region requires,” he said.
He called for cooperation in research, education, innovation and capacity building, particularly to support smaller maritime nations and developing countries. Useful technology, he said, should be judged by its ability to solve problems rather than its cost or sophistication.
Singh said the maritime sector would play a crucial role in India’s ambition of becoming a developed nation by 2047. He highlighted investments in ports and connectivity, port-led development under Sagarmala, coastal economic activities and the maritime industrial base.
He described the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 as the blueprint for this transformation, with technology, research, education, innovation and skills as key priorities.
The minister also stressed that economic development must advance alongside environmental responsibility. Oceans could not be treated as an unlimited source of resources, he said, calling for protection of marine ecosystems, responsible resource use and greater attention to coastal communities.
“National prosperity and ecological responsibility are not competing objectives. They must reinforce each other,” he said.
Reaffirming India’s commitment to an open, inclusive and rules-based maritime order, Singh referred to the MAHASAGAR vision—Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions—and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative announced in 2019.
He urged participants to translate discussions into partnerships, projects and measurable outcomes through stronger scientific networks, joint research, exchanges between universities and maritime institutions, and affordable technological solutions.
In his address, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan said maritime cooperation must extend beyond acquiring equipment to developing capabilities that allow partner countries to operate, maintain, adapt and upgrade technologies.
He called for greater collective investment in ocean science, sharing of scientific data and technology, joint research and scientific expeditions. Trust, transparency and inclusive ocean governance were essential to strengthening regional institutions, he said.
The three-day dialogue, organised by the Indian Navy in association with the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), began on November 3. Its second day focused on maritime awareness and scientific capabilities to respond to environmental change.
Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh delivered a special address and released the NMF publication Alternative Hull Forms for the Future Indian Navy.
An interactive session featuring former Indian and Sri Lankan naval chiefs examined maritime strategy, technological change and regional cooperation, including engagement through the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, currently chaired by the Indian Navy.
Another session on oceanographic science and climate resilience discussed cooperation involving Indian Ocean island states such as Mauritius and Seychelles, including research vessels, observation networks, forecasting and ocean data sharing.
Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit and former Navy chief and NMF Chairman Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi were among those present at the event.
(PIB)
