India, a U.S. defense partner, has showcased its eight submarines operating together in a recent exercise in the Arabian Sea.
The vessels were deployed as part of Operation Sankalp, an ongoing maritime security operation seeking to address complex challenges such as the attack by Houthis on commercial vessels.
"The Western Seaboard witnessed eight submarines operating together in a recently concluded exercise in the Arabian Sea, demonstrating their high levels of Op Readiness," the Indian Navy's Western Naval Command said on X, formerly Twitter on Monday.
Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have attacked commercial vessels linked to Israel, the U.S., and the U.K. in the Red Sea, in support of the Palestinian militant group Hamas fighting in the Gaza Strip. Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel has linked the Red Sea shipping crisis to the ensuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Operation Sankalp, beginning in December 2023, has turned into an ongoing maritime situation awareness exercise by the Indian Navy, now having crossed the 100-day mark, Indian newspaper Times of India reported on March 23.
The operations, targeting anti-drone, anti-missile, and anti-piracy threats in the strategic waters of the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea, are part of a broader strategy to preempt and neutralize potential threats.
"Operation Sankalp has broken the myth of short and swift operations and stressed the need for sustained operations to ensure safety and stability in the oceans. The pace of operations is quite high and we have 11 submarines and 30 warships operating in different parts of the ocean to ensure coverage of all areas of interest," Indian Navy Chief, Admiral R Hari Kumar said on March 23, according to Indian news agency Asian News International.
Indian Navy Operating In Arabian Sea
On March 6, the Indian Navy rescued Barbados-flagged merchant and Greek-operated vessel MV True Confidence, a merchant vessel targeted in a ballistic missile attack by the Houthis.
In January, the Indian Navy's marine commandos, also known as MARCOs, rescued the crew of Liberian-flagged MV Lila Norfolk, hijacked near Somalia's coast.
The Indian Navy also recently showcased its two aircraft carriers, the Russian-origin INS Vikramaditya and the locally built INS Vikrant, in a rare operation demonstrating the capability to operate in a complex maritime environment.
Meanwhile, China hasn't openly condemned the Houthis, despite them launching repeated anti-ship ballistic missile strikes in the area, because the group had been sparing Beijing's vessels due to China condemning Israel's war in Gaza. But despite assurances to Beijing, Houthis attacked a Chinese-owned, Chinese-operated oil tanker, MV Huang Pu, on March 23.
China's military recently called the Indian Navy's rescue missions in the Red Sea publicity stunts.
"Recently, the Indian Navy has crafted several publicity stunts. After the clashes between Houthi militants and the U.S.-U.K. coalition in the Red Sea, India promptly announced the dispatch of five Indian-version Aegis destroyers to escort ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters," the People's Liberation Army said in an opinion article.
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About the writer
Aadil Brar is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers international security, U.S.-China relations, and East Asian ... Read more
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