Rajnath Singh calls for integrated India-Sri Lanka maritime security framework in Indian Ocean
Colombo, Sep 9. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for deeper India-Sri Lanka maritime cooperation to safeguard sea lanes, ensure freedom of navigation and facilitate unhindered maritime trade, stressing that emerging security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) must be addressed before they develop into serious threats to regional prosperity.
Addressing Sri Lankan Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara, the commanders of the Sri Lankan Army, Navy and Air Force and senior officials at the Ministry of Defence in Colombo on September 9, Singh said secure sea lanes, respect for international law and freedom of navigation were critical to collective security and economic prosperity in the Indian Ocean.
He emphasised that national security and economic growth were closely interconnected with geography and regional stability, and neither India nor Sri Lanka could afford to remain indifferent to developments in their surrounding maritime environment.
While acknowledging the progress made by the two countries in strengthening defence capabilities through capacity-building initiatives and joint military exercises, Singh called for further consolidation of the bilateral strategic partnership, with particular emphasis on maritime security.
Singh said India and Sri Lanka should develop and implement joint protocols, improve operational skills and share experiences to respond effectively to emerging threats arising from rapidly changing global and regional dynamics.
He said maritime cooperation needed to be treated as a continuous process and called for new frameworks for a closer partnership at sea, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision.
“Mutual” and “Holistic”, he noted, underline the importance of synergy, cooperation and collaboration among partner countries.
Describing India and Sri Lanka as countries bound by a shared ocean, Singh said maritime security was not an abstract concept but a reality directly affecting their trade, security and future.
He termed Sri Lanka a friendly neighbour, longstanding friend and reliable partner, and said both countries occupied a central position in discussions on maritime security in the Indian Ocean.
According to Singh, stronger India-Sri Lanka maritime cooperation would serve the interests of both countries while contributing to wider regional growth and security.
He highlighted the progress made in bilateral maritime cooperation, particularly in search and rescue operations that have helped save lives at sea. India and Sri Lanka have also been working together against narcotics trafficking, piracy and human trafficking.
In this context, Singh underlined the growing importance of the Colombo Security Conclave, which brings together regional countries to cooperate on maritime safety and security, counter-terrorism, cyber security and organised crime.
He cited the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre established with cooperation between India and Sri Lanka as an example of the two countries’ shared commitment to keeping the Indian Ocean safe.
Singh said India was prepared to further support Sri Lanka through capacity-building programmes and joint exercises, allowing the two sides to exchange operational experience and improve protocols for implementing joint initiatives.
Looking ahead, the Defence Minister proposed that India and Sri Lanka work towards developing a mutually beneficial and integrated Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) system capable of providing comprehensive maritime information in real time.
Such a system, he said, would require systematic interaction and coordination among relevant government agencies, navies and coast guards of the two countries.
The proposed cooperation could help the two countries respond more effectively to illegal fishing, track suspicious vessels and combat narcotics trafficking, smuggling, terrorism and other maritime security threats.
Singh also called for greater cooperation to address problems faced by fishermen, stressing that such issues needed to be tackled jointly rather than treated solely as security concerns.
He said the bilateral maritime partnership should extend beyond traditional security issues to emerging areas such as aquaculture, marine biotechnology, ocean science, protection of the marine environment and maritime tourism.
He further suggested exploring the creation of a joint Maritime Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mechanism involving relevant agencies of both countries to enable coordinated and rapid responses to natural and man-made disasters.
Singh said the Indian Ocean was entering a period of major strategic and economic transformation, presenting both challenges and opportunities for India and Sri Lanka.
He called on the two countries to combine their respective capabilities and experience to address emerging threats and use their longstanding maritime partnership to generate shared economic growth.
The Defence Minister said the future of India-Sri Lanka relations should be guided by the principle that geographical proximity creates interdependence, which in turn offers significant opportunities for cooperation and shared development.
Reiterating India’s commitment to being a dependable partner in its neighbourhood, Singh said holistic maritime security and mutual prosperity were closely linked.
He expressed confidence that India and Sri Lanka, as close maritime partners, were well positioned to work together to safeguard peace, security and stability across the Indian Ocean Region.
Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha and other senior officials attended the event.
Earlier, Singh was accorded a guard of honour on his arrival at the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence. He also visited the Indian Peace Keeping Force Memorial at Battaramulla and laid a wreath in tribute to Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during their service.
