Rajnath Singh stresses on freedom of navigation as Navy commissions destroyer ship Visakhapatnam

Mumbai : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday stressed on ‘rule-based order’ and ‘freedom of navigation’ in the Indian Ocean, and said some ‘irresponsible nations’ out of ‘hegemonic tendencies’ are defining the laws arbitrarily.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of Indian Navy’s guided missile destroyer ship Visakhapatnam, the Defence Minister made a veiled attack at China, without taking the name of any country, and spoke in details about the freedom of navigation.

He also mentioned indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant, which is undergoing trials, and said it will increase India’s reach from Indian Ocean to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Stressing on the importance of Indian Ocean as a trade route, the Union Minister said, “Keeping Indo-Pacific open, safe, and secure is the primary objective of the Indian Navy.

“The UN convention on laws of the sea defines territorial waters, exclusive economic zone and good order at sea. Arbitrary interpretation of these creates problems in rule based order… There are some nations, I would call them irresponsible nations, who for their narrow partisan interests and out of hegemonic interests, give new definitions to these laws everyday,” he said in an apparent attack on China, though he did not name the country.

India, and other countries have been expressing concerns over the increased activities and presence of the Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean.

“These rules are very important, but they are being weakened by arbitrary definitions. It is a matter of concern. As a responsible maritime stakeholder, India supports consensus based peaceful, and rule based maritime order,” Singh said.

The Minister said India wanted a rule-based Indo-Pacific, with freedom of navigation, where interests of all stakeholders are protected.

He also talked about indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant, which is presently undergoing sea trials, and is expected to be inducted in the Navy later next year.

“Development of INS Vikrant is also a milestone in the indigenisation efforts of the Navy. Despite of Covid, the ship has finished it’s maiden trials,” Singh said.

“Forty fighter jets can land on it, and it’s armed with anti-aircraft, anti-submarine and land attack missiles.This carrier will increase our reach from Indian Ocean to Pacific and Atlantic oceans,” he said adding that it’s commissioning would be a golden day not just for Navy but also in India’s defence history.

The stealth guided missile destroyer Visakhapatnam is the first ship of Project 15B, commissioned in the Indian Navy on Sunday.

Constructed at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, the 163-meter-long, 17 meters wide, 7400 tonnes ship has been called one of the most potent warships constructed in India.

The ship has been constructed using indigenous steel DMR 249A and is amongst the largest destroyers constructed in India. Around 75 per cent content of the ship is indigenous.