IFR 2016: PM Modi unveils ‘Sagar’ doctrine of transforming India via maritime security

Visakhapatnam: Underlining the growing salience of the Indian Ocean and global maritime commons in India’s strategic calculus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for intensifying cooperation among navies and maritime agencies of the world to engineer virtuous cycles of cooperation. Linking his ‘Sagar’ doctrine with the larger project of transforming India by developing blue economy, the Indian leader underscored the growing indigenization of the Indian naval capability through Make in India. “Our approach is evident in our vision of ‘Sagar’, which means ‘Ocean’ and stands for – Security And Growth for All in the Region. India’s quest for economic prosperity through oceans is a part of our larger efforts to transform India,” Mr Modi said at the International Fleet Review 2016 in Visakhapatnam on February 7. “Navies and maritime agencies of the world need to work together and engineer virtuous cycles of cooperation,” Mr Modi said. Mr Modi, the chief guest at the International City Parade (ICP), which is one of the major highlights of the IFR, stressed that one of his foremost policy priorities is to ensure security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The parade had contingents from nearly 18 of the over 50 countries that participated in IFR 2016. The star attraction was the display of might put up by the Indian Navy at sea. The city had turned up to witness the grand spectacle in which 29 ships and 32 aircraft of the Indian Navy participated. “To build on the gains from today’s gathering, India would host the first ever Global Maritime Summit in April this year.  Its priority would be to scale up and strengthen the vibrant trade / investment / technology and commercial linkages between India and other maritime nations,” Mr Modi said.  “Oceans are critical for the global energy security as over 60 per cent of world’s oil production moves through sea routes,” he said. Stressing on the importance of joint maritime collaboration globally, he said that due to the scale and complexity of modern day challenges, the international maritime stability cannot be the preserve of a single nation. Mr Modi also spoke about India being a bright spot among the global economies and underlined that regionally and globally India is a pillar of stability and growth. He highlighted the growing threat from sea-borne terror. “Threat of sea borne terror, of which India has been a direct victim, continues to endanger the regional and global peace and stability.” Stressing on the importance of indigenous manufacturing, Mr Modi said: “Of all Indian Naval ships participating in Fleet Review, at least 37 are “Made in India” a number that will surely rise in coming years.”