Our country has to be a naval power because she is strategically peninsula-ting into the Indian Ocean. Apart from strategic linkage to South Pacific, world’s major trade routes pass through the Indian Ocean. India has vital interests in the security of these maritime routes as most of her foreign trade is carried along these routes. India has a vast coastline running into Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, India Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. For the protection of these enormous waterways, India must have one of the world’s strongest navies, of course, the strongest in the Indian Ocean.
It has also to be remembered that our eastern neighbour has been stoking rivalry in maritime trade and naval superiority in the oceanic strategy. China has invested enormously in Gawadar Sea Port on the coast of Makran in Baluchistan. She has also invested in the development of Hatmanto seaport in Sri Lanka. Obviously these activities of China pose a threat to the maritime interests and security of our country. It is therefore, in fitness of things that our country invests vigorously in building a strong navy. The induction of Russian made carrier ship Gorshkov re-christened as Vikramaditya has been formally handed over to Indian navy at a seaport in North Atlantic. The warship with a length of 284 meters will have MiG-29K naval combat aircraft along with Kamov 31 and Kamov 28 anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance helicopters. Hopefully Indian navy will be provided with more powerful strike muscle to set at rest any nefarious designs which our adversaries may be nursing. India has to be the unquestioned naval power in the Indian Ocean come what may. We have noticed hostile moves in the Bay of Bengal and we are aware that China and Pakistan are working in tandem for encirclement of India. We shall not allow that to happen. Induction of Vikramaditya, a 2.3 billion dollar mega vessel into the Indian navy is essentially meant to be a deterrent against inimical stances. India is a peaceful country but she will not compromise her security.
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