India’s economic prosperity is linked to maritime security and, therefore, it’s necessary to protect our territorial waters and ensure freedom of navigation, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He was addressing senior Navy officers and other civilian staff on Friday during the celebration of the ‘Year of Naval Civilians’ here.

In recent years, American and other European naval powers have reduced their presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) region while the Indian Navy has increased it, but the possibility of increased threats in the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea and the seas adjacent to East African countries persists, Singh said.

In view of this, the Indian Navy is working towards furthering its presence, he said.

“If we assess the entire decade from a defence & security perspective, we can say that it has been a volatile decade. We are witnessing conflicts and wars in different regions across the world. Keeping these things in mind, we need planning, resourcing and budgeting for our security. There is a need to adopt a consultative approach. We need to take inputs from all stakeholders on how to face future challenges. Our forces should be equipped and ready according to the changing times,” said Singh, underscoring the crucial role of the civilian workforce in the planning process.

Cybersecurity link

The Defence Minister also drew the attention of the top brass to the point where cyber security and maritime security converge. “Given the high incidence of cyber attacks, ignoring them can prove to be fatal. I believe that there is a need to run a special awareness campaign about cyber security in the armed forces,” he said.

“We have to increase our critical capability, and focus on strengthening both our offensive and defensive responses. There should be a consultative approach to this planning process, in which we consult all the stakeholders including Naval civilians have a very important role,” he added.

In view of India’s strategic location and its geopolitical situation in the IOR, the Defence Minister reiterated the government’s resolve to strengthen the Navy, terming it as a necessity in today’s times.