Since the traditional maritime security challenges essentially have a state versus state character, the solutions can only be arrived through established conflict resolution mechanisms, said Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba on Saturday.
Delivering a valedictory address at the Sagar Discourse 2017, an international maritime security conference on the third and final day at a South Goa resort, Adm. Lanba apprehended that “narrow and over-nationalistic” attitudes tend to undermine such mechanisms.
At the conclave organised by the Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS), a non-governmental think tank, and attended by delegates from 22 countries, Adm. Lanba also warned of a growing nexus between perpetrators of a range of maritime crimes as a major challenge at sea.
“Narrow and over-nationalistic attitude at times tends to undermine such mechanisms as seen in the South China sea or in the Korean peninsula. This remains a cause of concern for all of us,” he said.
The Naval chief also said that dealing with first threats should primarily be a military-diplomatic function.
Speaking about the non-traditional challenges faced by the Indian Navy, Adm. Lanba said: “A sinister nexus also appears to be emerging between various forms of maritime crimes, such as maritime terrorism, piracy, drug-smuggling and gun-running, human trafficking.”
He also said that large-scale unreported and unregulated fishing was also causing severe ecological consequences, while also underlining the threat caused by climate change.
“Post the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, functional structure for security was kicked off and working protocol was initiated involving 15 ministries that had subsequently improved our maritime domain and security construct,” he said.
“We are progressively been able to establish working protocols between 15 different agencies functioning under six Ministries of the Government of India, looking after diverse aspects of maritime law enforcement and security in the coastal zone,” Adm. Lanba said referring to integrated approach of agencies to national and maritime security,” adding, “Indian Navy is hopeful of producing an integrated doctrine on national security involving all agencies in good time.”
Speaking on the significance of Indian Ocean, he pointed out that oceanic trade routes makes for 60% of the global trade in the Indian Ocean and hydrocarbon assets in this region in the form of oil and gas is not only feeding Asia, but also the globe.
Earlier, capturing the proceedings to the 3-day interaction, Sheshagiri Chari, Secretary General, FINS, said, “We have many doctrines on every other conceivable idea, but not on integrated national security.”
Airing up the concerns from various dimensions, Mr. Chari pointed out the need for integrated national and maritime security on the lines of nuclear doctrine.
FINS, which will hold its annual discourse at Goa every year on SAGAR, is also planning a school on strategic studies in Goa . It also formally launched a journal of Strategy & Diplomacy, he said.