In the headlines is the Indian Navy’s stealth Frigate, INS Talwar, presently deployed for Operation Sankalp marking the third successive year of Indian Navy’s presence in the Gulf.
Understanding Operation Sankalp
Operational Sankalp is an initiative launched by the Indian Navy in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The key objective behind this operation is to ensure that Indian vessels navigating these waters are safe and secure. The operation is a direct response to the attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf of Oman in June 2019. This led the Indian Navy to initiate Maritime Security Operations, code-named Operation Sankalp, to safeguard Indian Flag Vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
Deployment Details
Since the commencement of Operation Sankalp, twenty-three warships have been mobilized for this operation. On an average, these ships ensure that 16 Indian-flagged merchant vessels receive safe passage every day in the Gulf region. The Indian Navy’s stealth Frigate, INS Talwar, is among the warships currently deployed in the Gulf region.
The Significance of Operation Sankalp
India’s heavy dependence on oil imports from foreign countries makes operations like Sankalp crucial. In 2019-2020, approximately 62% of India’s oil imports, valued at roughly 66 billion USD, came from the Gulf region. Given the persisting security situation in the Persian Gulf, it is essential to provide security to Indian-flagged merchant vessels transiting through this region.
About INS Talwar
INS Talwar (F40) is the first ship of the Talwar-class frigates of the Indian Navy. The word ‘Talwar’, translating to ‘Sword’ in Hindi, symbolizes its might. It was constructed in Russia and commissioned into the Indian Navy in June 2003. Equipped for anti-air operations, anti-ship or land-attack missiles, and anti-submarine warfare, the warship demonstrates formidable power and effectiveness.
Highlighting the Persian Gulf
Often referred to as the Arabian Gulf, the Persian Gulf is a marginal sea of the Indian Ocean, located between the Arabian Peninsula and southwestern Iran. It holds two-thirds of the world’s proven oil reserves and one-third of the world’s proven natural gas reserves. Its strategic location ensures high traffic from large tankers carrying oil from marine terminals in Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates among others, making it an international maritime hub.
Insights on the Gulf of Oman
The Gulf of Oman, an arm of the Arabian Sea, is nestled between the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Functioning as a vital shipping route for the oil-rich Persian Gulf, it stands as the only entry point from the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean into the Persian Gulf. Consequently, guaranteeing its security is a shared interest among the world’s leading oil exporters and importers.