Indian Ocean

India a preferred partner in Indian Ocean region, says CDS Gen Chauhan

CDS emphasised that a nation's location and its geographic characteristics determine its ability to project power and provide strategic options, regardless of its size

Cyclone Montha makes landfall on Andhra coast, heavy rain in Odisha

Cyclone Montha set to make landfall near Kakinada; experts warn that warming seas and changing weather patterns are intensifying storms along India's east coast

Indian Air Force, Royal Navy conduct joint exercise over Indian Ocean

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Navy conducted a joint aerial exercise over the Indian Ocean Region on Tuesday.The exercise involved a range of frontline platforms, including the Indian Air Force's Sukhoi-30 MKIs, Jaguar fighter aircraft, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), and Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW & C) aircraft. From the Royal Navy, F-35B fighter jets operating from HMS Prince of Wales participated in the coordinated mission.Sharing details of the exercise, the Indian Air Force wrote on X, "On 14 Oct 25, IAF Sukhoi-30 MKIs, Jaguars, AWACS & AEW & C aircraft joined Royal Navy F-35Bs from HMS Prince of Wales for a joint exercise over the Indian Ocean Region. The training strengthened interoperability, mutual trust, and collective commitment to regional stability."In a related development, Indian defence officials have confirmed that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is preparing to extend the range of its Astra ..

Madagascar president says coup underway as soldiers join protests

An attempted coup is underway in the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar, the country's president said on Sunday. A statement from President Andry Rajoelina's office said it wishes to inform the nation and the international community that an attempt to seize power illegally and by force has been initiated. The statement did not immediately identify who was attempting to overthrow the government, but members of the armed forces joined youth-led protests against Rajoelina on Saturday. The protests against service failures and alleged government corruption and nepotism have been going on since Sept. 25.

India, UK launch eight-day mega naval exercise in Western Indian Ocean

The navies of India and the UK kick-started an eight-day mega wargame in the Western Indian Ocean in line with their focus to boost overall military ties. The UK's Carrier Strike Group (CSG), led by HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, has been deployed for the Exercise Konkan. The exercise is a reaffirmation of the shared commitment to ensuring secure, open and free seas and will exemplify the "comprehensive strategic partnership" outlined in the India-UK Vision 2035, the Indian Navy said. The exercise is aimed at increasing combined maritime and air capabilities between the UK and Indian navies on the high seas. "The UK and India believe in an Indo-Pacific that is free and open. We share an ambition for a modern defence and security partnership, a fundamental pillar of UK-India Vision 2035, agreed by our prime ministers this year," Lindy Cameron, the British High Commissioner to India, said. "The engagements between the Carrier Strike Groups of our two navies demonstrate our ..

India pledges $680 mn package for Mauritius to boost trade, security

India pledged a $680 million package for Mauritius, including $25 million budgetary aid, to strengthen infrastructure, maritime security, and bilateral trade in local currencies

SpaceX Starship deploys 8 dummy satellites, splashes down in Indian Ocean

SpaceX launched the latest test of its mega rocket Starship on Tuesday night and completed the first-ever deployment of a test payload eight dummy satellites into space. After just over an hour coasting through space, Starship splashed down as planned in the Indian Ocean. Starship blasted off from Starbase, SpaceX's launch site in South Texas, just after 6:30 pm. It was the 10th test for the world's biggest and most powerful rocket, which SpaceX and NASA hope to use to get astronauts back on the moon. NASA has ordered two Starships to land astronauts on the moon later this decade, and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's ultimate goal is Mars. No crew members were aboard the demo launch. The test also included the successful return of the craft's Super Heavy Booster, which splashed down in the Atlantic after testing a landing-burn engine sequence. The Starship itself continued to orbit the Earth passing from daylight in Texas through night and back into daytime again ahead of the planned ..

Russia's Indian Ocean presence not significant, limited to exercises: MEA

MEA says US has significant presence in Indian Ocean via CMF, however Russia's role limited to joint exercises with partners

Back in the sun: Patient and constructive diplomacy pays off in Maldives

As the recent reset with Sri Lanka has demonstrated, mature responses to geopolitical pressures can be as effective as the exercise of hard power

India eyes stealth edge with new submarines amid China's growing presence

Advanced Project 75(I) seen as urgent amid China's growing presence in Indian Ocean

Best of BS Opinion: PLIs can't succeed without deeper structural reforms

Today's pieces span multiple issues, from overseas acquisitions by PSUs, PLI schemes' success, the proposed India-US BTA, and the debilitating effect of quality issues across sectors

India, ASEAN to develop cruise tourism in Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean

India will work with ASEAN to develop cruise tourism circuits in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Monday. Sonowal inaugurated first ever ASEAN-India Cruise Dialogue here on Monday, according to a statement. The meet hosted by India is being attended by all the member nations of ASEAN; i.e. Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam along with Timor Leste. "India plans to work with ASEAN countries to develop cruise tourism and tourism circuits in the Bay of Bengal as well as the Indian Ocean region. "An integrated cruise network linking Indian ports with ASEAN destinations supported by real-time tracking and modern terminals is being envisaged, which will be deliberated in this meet," Sonowal said. The Ports, Shipping and Waterways minister also said India plans to professionalise 5,000 km of navigable waterways to enhance cruise connectivity with ASEAN nations. The ...

At sea on ocean goals: India must lead to protect marine health interests

With UN pledges on ocean health remaining voluntary, India must chart its own course to safeguard its maritime interests

Malaysia approves new search for MH370 over a decade after disappearance

Malaysia's government has given final approval for a Texas-based marine robotics company to renew the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean more than a decade ago. Cabinet ministers agreed to terms and conditions for a no-find, no-fee contract with Texas-based Ocean Infinity to resume the seabed search operation at a new 15,000-square-kilometer (5,800-square-mile) site in the ocean, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said in a statement Wednesday. Ocean Infinity will be paid $70 million only if wreckage is discovered. The Boeing 777 plane vanished from radar shortly after taking off on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people, mostly Chinese nationals, on a flight from Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, to Beijing. Satellite data showed the plane turned from its flight path and headed south to the far-southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed. An expensive multinational search failed to turn up any clues to i

Naval exercise between Pak, Sri Lanka shelved following India's concerns

A plan to hold a military exercise between the navies of Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the strategic waters of Trincomalee was shelved weeks back after New Delhi conveyed its concerns to Colombo over the proposed drills, multiple sources have said. Trincomalee is situated on Sri Lanka's northeastern coast and is considered a significant hub in the Indian Ocean region, especially for India's maritime security interests. The sources said the navies of the two countries planned to carry out the exercise off Trincomalee in line with their regular engagements. The plan did not go through after India apprised its apprehensions over the planned exercise to the Sri Lankan side, they told PTI. The navies of Pakistan and Sri Lanka are known to have cordial relations and warships from both countries visit each other's ports regularly, besides carrying out wargames. There was no official word on the plan either from Sri Lanka or from Pakistan. Military experts, explaining Trincomalee's strategic

IMD forecasts 'above normal' monsoon in 2025, easing inflation worries

The LPA for the June to September rains is 87 centimetres. Rainfall between 96-104 per cent of the LPA is considered normal

Indian Navy ensures no nation suppresses another in Indian Ocean: Rajnath

The Indian Navy ensures that "no nation suppresses another" in the Indian Ocean Region on the basis of overwhelming economy and military power, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday. The remarks, made while addressing an event at the strategic Karwar naval base in Karnataka, comes in the backdrop of China's increased military muscle-flexing in the region. Singh flagged off Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR -- carrying crew members from India and nine other countries -- that set sail on a nearly month-long deployment in the south-west Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Singh termed the launch of IOS SAGAR a reflection of India's commitment to peace, prosperity and collective security in the maritime domain. He commended the Indian Navy for emerging as the first responder during incidents such as hijacking of ships and acts of piracy in the region. The Indian Navy ensures the security of not just Indian ships but also foreign ones, Singh asserted and underlined free navigation, ...