The Indian Navy has stepped up its operational presence in the Arabian Sea region, deploying additional warships near the Gulf of Oman to escort Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions in West Asia raise concerns over maritime security and energy supply routes.
Government sources confirmed that Indian naval ships are actively escorting commercial vessels navigating the sensitive corridor, ensuring their safe passage into Indian waters. Tankers including Shivalik, Nanda Devi and Jag Ladki have already reached Indian ports under naval protection after transiting the high-risk zone.
The enhanced deployment is part of the Navy’s mission-based deployment framework, under which Indian warships maintain continuous presence in key maritime regions. While at least one warship has been stationed near the Gulf of Oman since 2017, the current security environment has prompted a significant increase in naval assets in the area.
Sources indicated that the number of warships initially rose from one to three and has since been expanded further, though specific figures have not been disclosed. The deployed vessels are tasked with escorting merchant ships, monitoring maritime activity and ensuring secure transit through strategic sea lanes.
The government also noted that 22 Indian-flagged vessels are currently operating west of the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the scale of India’s maritime exposure in the region. The Strait remains a critical chokepoint for global energy trade, with a substantial share of oil and gas shipments passing through it.
Parallel naval operations are underway in adjacent waters as part of the same deployment framework. Operation Sankalp continues in the Gulf of Oman, focusing on safeguarding merchant shipping, while anti-piracy patrols are being conducted in the Gulf of Aden to counter threats from piracy and maritime crime.
At a briefing on developments in West Asia, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Navy’s presence in the region is primarily linked to anti-piracy operations and maritime security initiatives. He added that further operational details would be provided by the Defence Ministry.
Beyond the immediate theatre of operations, the Navy’s mission-based deployment extends to several other strategically important regions, including the waters around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Islands serve as a critical maritime outpost, enabling surveillance and rapid response across the eastern Indian Ocean and vital shipping lanes.
Additional deployments are maintained near Seychelles to secure traffic along the Cape of Good Hope route, as well as near the Maldives and in the Bay of Bengal close to the Myanmar-Bangladesh maritime boundary. These deployments are aimed at ensuring maritime stability and protecting sea lines of communication.
During such missions, Indian naval units also engage in joint exercises with partner navies and undertake humanitarian assistance and rescue operations when required. This multi-role approach allows the Navy to respond to a wide range of contingencies, from piracy incidents to maritime accidents.
The current escalation in deployment highlights India’s focus on securing its maritime interests amid evolving geopolitical risks. With energy shipments and trade routes under pressure, the Navy’s expanded presence is expected to play a crucial role in maintaining stability across critical sea lanes, including those linked to the Andaman and Nicobar region.
