The Indian Naval Ship Talwar recently joined forces with a multitude of global counterparts for Cutlass Express 2021, an annual training exercise conducted off the coast of East Africa. This multinational engagement is aimed at bolstering maritime security in the region and enabling stronger collaboration amongst participating navies.
Understanding Exercise Cutlass Express
The main purpose of this annual exercise is to enhance national and regional maritime security on the East African coast and the Western Indian Ocean. Cutlass Express 2021 showcases a widespread blend of participants, including 12 Eastern African countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and an array of international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Interpol, the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), and Critical Maritime Routes Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO).
This exercise is structured to evaluate and augment combined maritime law enforcement capacity, stimulate national and regional security, and foster interoperability between regional navies. In commitment to its policy of maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region and vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), India’s Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) is also participating in the exercise.
The Strategic Importance of the Western Indian Ocean
The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) witnesses the convergence of the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea, linking North America, Europe, and Asia. Thus, it embodies strategic global significance. The WIO region encompasses 10 countries: Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Comoros, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, and the French overseas territory of Réunion.
Given its extensive natural resource profile, the WIO region has grown increasingly attractive to global stakeholders. India, driven by energy security considerations and dependence on foreign resources, has been progressively gravitating towards this region.
Inter-regional Cooperation Dynamics in the WIO Region
A primary program spearheading maritime security reinforcement in the WIO region is the MASE Programme, initiated in 2010 in Mauritius. A collaboration between the European Union (EU) and the UNODC, it aims to fortify the maritime security capacity of Eastern and Southern Africa and the WIO region, focusing on implementing an anti-piracy Regional Strategy and Action Plan. The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) is a participant in this initiative.
Additionally, the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC) provides a framework for capacity building in the WIO region and Gulf of Aden to counter piracy threats. It was first made operational in WIO waters following its signing in January 2009. Subsequently, the Jeddah amendment to the DCoC expanded its scope in 2017 to other illicit maritime activities, such as human trafficking and illegal fishing. This expansion aimed to foster national and regional capacity, laying a foundation for sustainable development in the maritime sector. India has joined the Djibouti Code and the Jeddah Amendment.
Key International Organizations in the WIO Region
The IOC, created in 1982, encompasses five small-island states: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, and Seychelles. Recently, India gained observer status in the IOC.
The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), formed in 1997, is another influential regional forum. It comprises 22 member states, with a mission to foster understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation through consensus.
The Role of INS Talwar
INS Talwar, the flagship of the Talwar-class frigates or Krivak class stealth ships of the Indian Navy, is a key player in the Cutlass Express exercise. These stealth ships are constructed with Russian technology, under the ‘Make in India’ initiative at Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL), and their engines are supplied by Ukraine.
In 2016, India and Russia signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement for four Krivak or Talwar stealth frigates. The first two will be built in Russia’s Yantar Shipyard, and the remaining two in GSL. The Navy currently operates six of these vessels. Their primary function is to detect and neutralize enemy submarines and large surface ships.