Indian Navy plays important role in the Indian Ocean Region on anti-piracy missions to counter Somali pirates

The Indian Navy is playing an important role as a security provider in the Indian Ocean Region, with repeated operations demonstrating its capabilities, particularly in the north-western Indian Ocean, where security risks have increased due to the twin problems of Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and piracy off the coast of Africa. This has strengthened Indian Navy’s credentials and India’s reputation as a first responder and a force for peace and stability in the area.

The Indian Navy has rescued commercial ships hit by Houthi drones or missiles, thwarted piracy attempts, undertaken missions to rescue hijacked ships and their crews, investigated a large number of fishing vessels, and boarded vessels of interest in an ongoing effort to ensure the safety of merchant shipping and seafarers. 

The Indian Navy has been deployed on anti-piracy missions for several years now to counter Somali pirates off the east coast of Africa. However, the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with parties such as the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen becoming engaged and responding by attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea, has increased the Indian Navy’s responsibilities, and it has responded to the challenge. 

The attack on MV Chem Pluto, which occurred about 220 nautical miles off India’s coast, prompted the Indian Navy to increase its presence and deploy more than 10 frontline warships, including its modern Kolkata and Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, Talwar and Shivalik-class frigates, as well as aerial assets such as the P8I maritime patrol aircraft and MQ-9 drones, and marine commandos (MARCOS). The Indian Navy chief had warned troublemakers that, empowered by the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act of 2022, the Indian Navy would board suspicious vessels, and conduct anti-drone operations. 

The most recent occurred on March 16, when the navy tracked a hijacked commercial vessel named Ruen, which was being utilised as a pirate ship. In this operation, the Indian Navy demonstrated new capabilities by dropping marine commandos (MARCOS) and two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft from an Indian Air Force C-17 strategic lift aircraft that flew 10 hours and some 2,600 kilometres from Indian shores to the northern Arabian Sea, where the Indian Navy destroyer INS Kolkata had already intercepted the pirate ship. The pirates shot down a drone and fired on the vessel. The operation caused the pirates to surrender, resulting in the rescue of the ship with its crew of 17, and 37,800 tons of cargo. 

This is the first time the Indian Navy has undertaken such an operation, displaying jointness with the Indian Air Force. The Indian Navy must continue to be deployed in larger numbers to protect India’s interests.