The Indian Navy’s dramatic rescue of a business ship from pirates off Somalia’s coast exhibits how India’s navy has developed particular forces capabilities on par with a number of the world’s greatest, in response to Western analysts.
The Indian Navy seized MV Ruen, a former Maltese-flagged bulk service, rescued 17 hostages and captured 35 armed pirates within the practically 40-hour operation round 2,600 km from the Indian coast final week.
“The success of the operation marks the Indian Navy as a top-class force in terms of training, command and control and other capabilities,” CNN quoted John Bradford, Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs fellow, as saying.
“What marks this operation as impressive is how risk was minimised by using a coordinated force that includes the use of a warship, drones, fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, and marine commandos,” Bradford mentioned.
The Navy deployed warship INS Kolkata, long-endurance Sea Guardian drones, P-8I surveillance plane and airdropped elite MARCOS commandos from a C-17 aircraft to rescue the Bulgarian-owned ship.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin conveyed to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday his appreciation for the Indian Navy’s function in conducting anti-piracy operations within the Indian Ocean Region.
Experts concern the unstable safety scenario within the Red Sea attributable to assaults by Yemen-based Houthi rebels on business transport could tie up worldwide forces and supply a window for Somali pirates within the close by Horn of Africa – presenting a multi-billion-dollar menace to the worldwide economic system.
Somali pirates’ seize of the MV Ruen in December final 12 months marked the primary profitable hijacking of a vessel off the strife-torn nation’s coast since 2017.
The vessel was hijacked by Somali pirates on December 14 final 12 months and was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship in the direction of conducting acts of piracy on the excessive seas, the Indian Navy mentioned.
But when the Ruen, now operated by a pirate crew, final week left Somali waters with the intent of committing acts of piracy on the excessive seas, the Indian Navy made strikes to intercept it, in response to a navy assertion posted on social platform X.
Analyst Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain, mentioned the incident highlighted the professionalism of the Indian Navy and mentioned India’s marine commando power, referred to as MARCOS, had discovered from its US and British counterparts.
“The Indian Navy itself is a highly trained and disciplined professional force,” Schuster mentioned.
“MARCOS’ nearly eight months of training is modelled after Britain’s SAS. Despite a very intense selection process, only about 10% to 15% of those who enter the training graduate,” he mentioned.
The analysts famous that the Indian Navy is skilled in anti-piracy operations, going again greater than 20 years – and the restive safety scenario in one of many world’s main transport lanes meant they have been prone to be referred to as on once more.
“The Indian show of force proved too much for the pirates,” CNN commented. It additionally famous that Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has thanked India for rescuing the hijacked vessel and its crew.
