India First Responder, Preferred Security Partner: Rajnath Singh

• Rajnath Singh calls India a First Responder and Preferred Security Partner.
• Indian warships’ global deployments highlight blue-water capability.
• Navy plans induction or commissioning of 18 warships in 2026.
• Defence Minister calls for stronger maritime surveillance.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 29th Sept: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said India has emerged as a “First Responder” and “Preferred Security Partner” in the Indian Ocean Region, while calling for stronger maritime surveillance and response mechanisms to address evolving security challenges.

Addressing the second edition of the Indian Navy’s biannual Commanders’ Conference 2026 at Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi, Singh said the country’s growing strategic position in the region also brings greater strategic responsibility.

“India stands firm as the First Responder, Preferred Security Partner and as a symbol of trust and reliability in the Indian Ocean Region,” Singh said, adding that issues such as congestion, deception and grey-zone activities have made the maritime domain increasingly complex.

He called for monitoring and response mechanisms to be elevated to a new level.

Indian warships demonstrate blue-water capability
Singh highlighted the presence of Indian warships in the South China Sea, Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean, saying the deployments demonstrate the Indian Navy’s blue-water force capability.

He said the Navy has a crucial role in ensuring strategic depth and regional power projection.

Linking naval modernisation with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Singh described the Indian Navy as a strategic anchor that goes beyond maritime boundary protection to support economic security, regional stability and power projection.

He called upon the Navy to maintain its momentum and develop into a future-ready, combat-ready and globally respected force.

Strait of Hormuz operations highlighted
The Defence Minister also praised the Navy’s role during the West Asia crisis, particularly its efforts to ensure the safe transit of Indian-flagged merchant vessels, including LPG tankers, through the Strait of Hormuz under Operation Urja Suraksha.

Singh said India imports approximately 85–90 per cent of its crude oil and around 50 per cent of its natural gas through maritime routes, making the security of sea lanes directly linked to the country’s economy, energy supplies and defence preparedness.

Push for indigenous warship production
Singh highlighted the Navy’s contribution to defence self-reliance, stating that India’s warship production ecosystem is now meeting global benchmarks.

He said recently commissioned warships contain more than 75 per cent indigenous content and called for India to move beyond meeting domestic requirements towards exporting warships to friendly foreign nations.

The Defence Minister also called for a significant upgrade of India’s maritime surveillance architecture, citing the growing volume and complexity of maritime traffic and the need for enhanced analytical capabilities.

18 warships planned for induction in 2026
Singh described 2026 as a historic year for the Indian Navy, with plans for the induction or commissioning of 18 warships, which he said would represent the largest single-year force accretion in the Navy’s history.

He linked the development to the growing maturity of India’s domestic naval shipbuilding ecosystem while stressing the need for further capability enhancement.

Women’s participation in frontline roles
The Defence Minister also commended the Navy’s efforts towards women’s empowerment, recruitment and innovation under the “All Ranks, All Roles” approach.

He highlighted the deployment of women officers on frontline warships and aircraft and their participation in naval navigational expeditions, including the Navika Sagar Parikrama voyage.

India assumes CTF-154 command
Singh congratulated the Indian Navy on assuming command of Combined Task Force-154 (CTF-154) under the Combined Maritime Forces, describing the move as an important contribution to regional cooperative security.

He also highlighted Operation Southern Readiness, conducted in Kochi during India’s command tenure of CTF-154. The operation involved 276 personnel from 27 countries, 76 facilitators and subject-matter experts, and four international organisations.

Singh further commended the deployment of INS Sudarshini for Lokayan-26, which he said strengthened India’s maritime diplomacy and engagement with the Indian diaspora across the United States, Atlantic and Mediterranean regions while showcasing the country’s maritime heritage.

“If the seas are secure, India will be secure”
Concluding his address, Singh commended the Navy for maintaining a high level of combat readiness and fulfilling its commitments across the region despite evolving challenges.

He said India’s maritime power is aimed not merely at displaying the national flag at sea but at ensuring that wherever the Tricolour is seen, it conveys security, trust and confidence.

“If the seas are secure, India will be secure; and if India is secure, the resolve for a Viksit Bharat will be further strengthened,” Singh said.

The Defence Minister also interacted with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Chief of the Army Staff during the conference.

The three-day apex-level conference, being held from September 29 to October 1, 2026, brings together the top leadership of the Indian Navy to review operational preparedness, maritime security and future capability development.