India’s top naval commanders will discuss strategic maritime matters, including ways to counter China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean region and the situation arising out of Houthi militants targeting cargo vessels in the Red Sea, during the three-day naval commanders’ conference beginning on Tuesday.

Sources said the naval commanders will also review the performance of weapons and sensors and the readiness of Indian Navy platforms.

“During the three-day conference, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan along with navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar, army chief General Manoj Pande and air chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari will engage with naval commanders on a wide range of issues, including ways to boost tri-services convergence amid the evolving regional security environment,” said a defence ministry official.

On the first day of the biannual naval commanders’ conference, defence minister Rajnath Singh Singh will witness the combat prowess of aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya in “twin carrier operations”, sources said.

“The last six months have witnessed significant changes in the geo-political landscape in the Indian Ocean Region due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The strategic alignment of the nations has resulted in a spillover of the kinetic actions on land into the maritime domain,” said the Indian Navy in a statement.

“Along with the drone and missile attacks on mercantile shipping, a resurgence of piracy has also been witnessed. The Indian Navy has responded to the emerging threats with strength and resolve, demonstrating its capability as a first responder.”

Sources said the commanders’ conference assumed greater significance amid the ongoing border standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh where the People’s Liberation Army has opened several fronts since April 2020 and is estimated to have taken over nearly 1,000 sqkm of India-claimed territory.

A defence ministry official said India was worried over China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean region.

“The Chinese PLA has been taking an assertive stance in the South China Sea and is challenging India’s domination in the region. Among the agenda during the conference is China’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean region,” the
official said.

Since the violent clash with the Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley on June 15, 2020, the navy has significantly increased its deployment in the Indian Ocean region.