Mission Sagar: India’s Initiative to Strengthen Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific region has emerged as a critical geopolitical space in recent years, with major powers vying for influence and asserting their strategic interests. India, as a key player in the region, has been pursuing an active foreign policy aimed at enhancing its economic and strategic engagements with the countries in the region. In this context, the Indian Navy’s Mission Sagar has emerged as a significant initiative to strengthen maritime cooperation and provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the region.
Mission Sagar was launched in May 2020 by the Indian Navy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The mission was aimed at aiding the countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the South Pacific, which were grappling with the pandemic. The mission was undertaken by the Indian Navy’s INS Kesari, a multi-role naval ship, which carried out several tasks, including providing food and medical assistance, undertaking maritime security patrols, and conducting joint exercises with the partner countries.
The mission was undertaken in the spirit of India’s policy of “SAGAR” (Security and Growth for All in the Region), which seeks to promote cooperation, peace, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region. The mission was also aimed at strengthening India’s strategic partnerships with the countries in the region and providing a platform for India to showcase its soft power and humanitarian outreach.
Mission Sagar was an ambitious undertaking by the Indian Navy, which involved visiting several countries in the region and aiding their governments and people. The mission was undertaken at a time when the world was reeling under the COVID-19 pandemic, and the countries in the region were facing a severe shortage of medical supplies and equipment. The mission was, therefore, a timely and much-needed initiative to provide assistance and support to the countries in need.
The mission was also an opportunity for the Indian Navy to demonstrate its operational capabilities and strategic reach. The INS Kesari, which was the mainstay of the mission, is a versatile ship equipped with modern medical facilities, which made it an ideal platform for providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The ship also undertook several joint exercises with the partner countries, which helped in enhancing the maritime cooperation and interoperability between the Indian Navy and the partner navies.
- First Mission: Sagar 1
India deployed INS On May 10, 2020, Kesari sailed away from port with supplies of food, medications, and medical teams. It would travel to Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Comoros, and La Reunion in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean Commission includes these countries, and India joined as an observer.
The whole Western Indian Ocean’s island nations were covered by a single aid expedition for the first time. The only significant exception where supplies are delivered by air lifting by the Indian airforce is SriLanka.
On June 28, 2020, INS Kesari arrived back at the port of Kochi after traversing more than 7,500 nautical miles in 55 days.
- Second Mission: Sagar 2
INS Airavat departed the port in November 2020. It was sending food to Eritrea, Djibouti, South Sudan, and Sudan.
India was not only completing a humanitarian mission but also enhancing its geopolitical position because these nations were situated on the main shipping route between the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. As a result, they are important shipping routes and can be advantageous strategically during war.
- Third Mission: Sagar 3
In December 2020, the Third Mission Sagar INS Kiltan set sail for Vietnam and Cambodia. The INS Kiltan was transporting 15 tonnes of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) for disaster relief in the wake of disastrous floods in Vietnam and Cambodia.
The objective of this exercise, like past Sagar missions, was to show Southeast Asian nations that India is a reliable partner and the first responder in the region.
It also emphasized the significance of the Association of Southeast Asian States (ASEAN) in bolstering existing strategic ties.
- Fourth Mission: Sagar 4
The INS Jalashwa arrived in Port Anjouan, Comoros in March 2021 with 1,000 metric tonnes of grains for the island nation. An Indian naval ship has now visited the Comoros twice. India had already dispatched medicine and medical aid teams to Comoros as part of Mission Sagar I.
- Strengthening Borders and Maintaining Peace
Mission Sagar was well received by the countries in the region, which appreciated India’s timely assistance and support. The mission was also lauded by the international community, which recognized India’s leadership and proactive role in promoting regional cooperation and providing humanitarian assistance in times of crisis. The mission was a testament to India’s growing global stature and its commitment to promoting a rules-based order in the region.
The success of Mission Sagar has paved the way for further strengthening of India’s maritime cooperation with the countries in the region. India has been actively engaging with the partner countries in the region through several initiatives, including the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). India has also been providing capacity-building assistance and training to the partner countries’ armed forces, which has helped in enhancing their operational capabilities and strengthening the regional security architecture.
- Conclusion
In conclusion, Mission Sagar was a significant initiative by the Indian Navy to strengthen maritime cooperation and provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the Indo-Pacific region. The mission was undertaken in the spirit of India’s policy of “SAGAR” and aimed at promoting cooperation, peace, and prosperity in the region. The mission was well received by the countries in the region and the international community, which recognized India’s leadership and proactive role in promoting regional cooperation and providing humanitarian assistance in times of crisis. The success of Mission Sagar has paved the way for further strengthening of India’s maritime cooperation with the countries in the region and enhancing its global stature as a responsible and reliable partner
