Chief of naval staff of India, Admiral Sunil Lanba, on October, reiterated in a maritime symposium in Verem the importance of cooperative engagement to promote maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and that maritime terrorism was no longer just a national or regional concern, but a global security challenge.
The naval chief, who was addressing the Goa Maritime Symposium being held at the Naval War College in Verem, said that along with conventional maritime threats, unconventional and non-traditional threats were also keeping maritime forces constantly engaged.
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According to local news, the Indian Navy has accorded a high degree of priority to maritime engagement with countries in the India Ocean Region (IOR). The Goa Maritime Symposium is one such attempt to bring navies of neighbor countries on a common platform. Eight countries of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand are participating in the symposium. China, however, remains excluded.
The growing presence of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy in the Indian Ocean has aroused concerns in India, and the Indian Navy remains on constant alert to track the forays of Chinese warships and submarines.
What is more, Mr. Lanba added that the difficult period in politics is due to an increasing flux which is included in competing interests.
He also acknowledged that China remained a key player in the IOR and that India was working with China to keep navigational routes safe.
