India and Indonesian navies step up growing security partnership to keep Indian Ocean safe

Bolstering maritime cooperation between the two navies and forging strong bond of friendship between the two countries, India and Indonesia are currently holding the 39th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT).

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Karmuk, an indigenously built Missile Corvette, participated in the pre-deployment briefing at Indonesia’s Belawan as the coordinated patrol began on December 8.

The CORPAT will be executed along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) from December 15 to 16 December and will conclude with a debrief at Port Blair.

Along with INS Karmuk, L-58 (indigenously built Landing Craft Utility vessel) and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft will also be participating in the CORPAT. KRI Cut Nyak Dien, a Kapitan Pattimura Class Corvette, would represent the Indonesian side.

Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as part of government’s vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region) to enhance maritime security in the region.

India and Indonesia have been carrying out CORPATs twice a year since 2002, with an aim of keeping this vital part of the IOR safe and secure for commercial shipping, international trade and conduct of legitimate maritime activities.

CORPATs help build understanding and interoperability between navies, and facilitate institution of measures to prevent and suppress Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.

It further helps enhance the operational synergy by exchange of information for prevention of smuggling, illegal immigration and for conduct of Search and Rescue (SAR) operations at sea.

India and Indonesia have traditionally enjoyed a close and friendly relationship covering a wide spectrum of activities and interactions. But recently they have stepped up their collaboration on targetting roots of terrorism based on Jihadi ideology. The focus on counterterrorism on an ideological plane is adding fresh strategic cement to their growing security partnership.

Around two weeks ago, both countries launched a major ideological campaign to counter terror leveraging their common tradition of tolerance and diversity.

Addressing a conference in New Delhi on the role of Ulema in India and Indonesia to foster peace, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval pointed out that with Indonesia, having the world’s largest Muslim population in the world, and India and the third highest, together the two countries can turn the ideological balance in favour of moderation versus extremism.

“Together we have 1.7 billion of the world’s population to preserve and promote the true values espoused by our religions. Together we should strive to propagate moderate virtues of Islam as a beacon hope and cooperation for the entire world,” said  Doval in the presence of his Indonesian counterpart Mohammed Mahfud, who had brought a delegation of Ulemas from Indonesia for the conference.

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