Disruption of trade in India-Pacific region to have adverse effect on global economy: India Navy chief

The India-Pacific region which covers 60 percent of the world population is confronted with both traditional and non-traditional challenges, adding the fact that any disruption of trade in the region will have an adverse effect on both regional as well as global economy, India Navy chief Sunil Lamba said.

After listing these, Admiral Lamba said the traditional challenges include unresolved sovereignty issues, territorial disputes, contradictory positions on international norms, maritime muscle-flexing and general militarisation of the region. Among nontraditional threats, he named piracy and maritime terrorism.

While addressing at the Geoeconomic Dialogue on 'Indo-Pacific: Possibilities and Portents', the Naval Chief added, "This is the fastest-growing region in the world; hence the region is becoming power centre."

In his address, he also outlined the country's viewpoint as far as the region is concerned. Lamba said that the country is charting its course of economic growth using a civilizational ethos of realism, coexistence, cooperation and partnership.

In achieving this role, he said that Indian Navy will continue to be 'Net security provider' in the Indian Ocean Region. He elaborated that to achieve these goals, the Indian Navy has taken a number of initiatives, such as Humanitarian Assistance And Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, anti-piracy operations, Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and resource sharing with other navies in the Indian Ocean.

Lamba, in his closing remark, said India's economic growth and our aspirations of empowerment of our masses would be adversely effected by any disruption of peace and stability in the region. Thus, India's and Indian Navy's Maritime Strategy is built on strategic deterrence, maritime cooperation and capacity building.

He hoped that the Indo-Pacific region emerges as a 'region of opportunities' and assured the audience the Indian Navy will do its utmost to play its role as India's maritime power and over come the portents to the extent feasible.