Amid the ongoing stand-off with China, India will host the defence ministers of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) for a conclave on 4 February, focusing on security concerns and collaborative efforts. India also hopes to sell some indigenously developed defence equipment to the countries of the IOR.
Sources in the defence and security establishment said the conclave will be part of the Aero India event scheduled next month in Bengaluru, and its theme will be ‘Enhanced peace, security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean’. Invites have been sent out to 28 countries with the option of attending physically or virtually, with sources labelling the conclave a ‘hybrid’ event.
The conclave will be followed by two seminars by the Indian Navy and the Department of Defence Production. The IOR is of strategic importance to India, which sees the region as a natural extension of its sphere of influence, the sources said. India has gone from calling itself the next “security provider” in the IOR to the “preferred security partner”.
Defence exports
With China flexing its muscles in the IOR, India plans to use the defence ministers’ conclave to showcase the defence products it has developed. Sources said one of the focus areas during the Aero India show will be indigenous defence equipment that India is now looking at exporting to friendly countries.
A source said India sees IOR countries as a priority area, as they face “a lot of the same security challenges as India”.
A second source said, “India is now developing and designing defence equipment. From fast patrol vessels to frigates and air defence systems like Akash, India understands the importance of having a strong deterrence capability. The IOR countries can benefit from this.”
A country-wise profile is being prepared to understand what each country needs and how Indian products can be pushed. A source had said at the time that a number of countries are looking at various military systems, and not all of them have the capability to procure from Western countries that are global defence exporters.
