The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kiltan recently docked at Sihanoukville Port, Cambodia as part of its ongoing mission, Mission Sagar-III. As a part of this humanitarian initiative, the ship will be providing 15 tons of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) stores to aid the flood-affected people of Cambodia.
About Mission Sagar-III
Mission Sagar-III is a part of India’s larger plan to provide HADR assistance to friendly foreign countries amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The current stop for INS Kiltan is Cambodia, where it will hand over provisions to Cambodia’s National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC). This follows a similar aid delivery it made to Central Vietnam, where it delivered 15 tons of HADR stores for the flood-affected populace.
Mission Sagar’s History and Reach
Launched in May 2020, ‘Mission Sagar’ is India’s initiative to provide Covid-19 related assistance to countries in the Indian Ocean Littoral states, including Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, and Seychelles. In November 2020, as part of the second phase of this mission, another Indian naval ship, INS Airavat, delivered food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, and Eritrea.
Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)
These missions align with India’s broad vision for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), termed as ‘Security And Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR). Launched in 2015, SAGAR aims to deepen economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbours and aid in building their maritime security capabilities. It highlights India’s position as a trustworthy partner and indicates the key role that the Indian Navy plays as a Preferred Security Partner and First Responder.
ASEAN and Indian Diplomacy
The Mission greatly emphasises the importance affixed to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The assistance extended to Cambodia and Vietnam, both ASEAN member nations, is a testament to this diplomatic stance. This initiative further solidifies India’s bilateral relationships and fortifies existing bonds with these countries.
INS Kiltan: A Brief Overview
INS Kiltan, along with INS Sahyadri, is one of the latest vessels to join the impressive fleet of the Indian Navy. These Kamorta-class anti-submarine warfare corvettes, based at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command, are indigenously designed and built multi-role ships. They come equipped with versatile weapons and sensors and can carry multi-role helicopters. These attributes represent India’s maturing warship building capabilities.
India’s Strategic Vision and Policies Pertaining to Maritime Domain
The SAGAR initiative should be seen in conjunction with several other policies implemented by India which have significant impact on the maritime domain. These include the Act East Policy, Project Sagarmala, Project Mausam, and focus on the Blue Economy among others. These concerted efforts seek to safeguard India’s national interests and strive towards fostering an inclusive, collaborative IOR which respects international law.
