The Indian Navy has recently dispatched two of its ships, INS Kolkata and INS Shakti, to Qingdao, China. This move is a part of its participation in the International Fleet Review (IFR) taking place later in April. The event is a significant part of the 70th anniversary celebrations of the People’s Liberation Army (Navy). The naval event, which doesn’t feature Pakistan’s Navy, is seen as an international platform for showcasing naval prowess and cooperation among nations
Participating Ships: INS Kolkata and INS Shakti
INS Kolkata, a stealth destroyer, and INS Shakti, a fleet tanker, are India’s representatives at the IFR. Both ships are renowned for their advanced equipment and capabilities. INS Kolkata is armed with cutting-edge weapons and sensors, making it capable of handling any form of naval warfare. On the other hand, INS Shakti is one of the largest tankers with a displacement of over 27,000 tonnes. Its capacity includes 15,000 tonnes of liquid cargo and more than 500 tonnes of solid cargo such as sustenance and ammunition.
Absence of Pakistan’s Navy
Distinguished by the non-participation of Pakistan’s Navy, speculations suggest that the unavailability of warships for the event could be the underlying reason. This comes amidst a heavy deployment of the Indian navy in the Arabian Sea.
About the International Fleet Review (IFR)
IFR is essentially a parade of naval ships, aircraft, and submarines organized by nations. The core idea behind IFR is to encourage goodwill, strengthen cooperation, and display organizational capabilities. It provides a prestigious stage for countries to flaunt their indigenous ship designing and ship-building skills on a global scale. The previous IFR was hosted in Jeju, South Korea in 2018. India’s last International Fleet Review was in February 2016 with a participation of 50 navies from different countries and nearly 100 warships.
| Year | IFR Host Country |
|---|---|
| 2018 | South Korea |
| 2016 | India |
India-China Relations
The relationship between India and China has seen significant changes over the years. When India held an International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam in 2016, China sent two guided missile frigates, Liuzhou, and Sanya. However, the relationship between the two nations experienced a dip during the Doklam crisis of 2017 – a border standoff that lasted for 73 days. It took numerous high-level meetings to lay out a roadmap for improving ties. During April 2018, an informal summit held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s President Xi in Wuhan, led to a resolution to open a new chapter in their relationship. They instructed their militaries to enhance coordination along the Sino-India border, which is nearly 3,500 km long. Even though India refused to attend the second Belt and Road forum protesting against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Chinese foreign minister has indicated that it will not affect bilateral relations.
