After marking its presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India has now sent its warship, INS Talwar to Bahrain. The move signals New Delhi’s intent to amplify its naval profile in the Indian Ocean and of seeking a closer partnership with its extended neighbourhood to the west.
On March 15, INS Talwar docked at Bahrain’s Mina Salman port—a key hub used by international warships engaged in protecting merchant shipping, including oil tankers. Pirates have regularly attacked merchant ships especially in the proximity of the Gulf of Aden, the gateway to the Red Sea and the Mediterranean sea via the Suez canal.
The strait of Hormuz is another vital channel through which oil and gas tankers sourcing energy from the Gulf, head to the East, to the lucrative markets of India, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. The safety of these ships is vital for the energy security of Asia.
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Given the vital importance of these sea lanes, the US has carefully located the headquarters of its Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. Unsurprisingly, during its stay in Bahrain, the Talwar ‘s on-board Visit Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) contingent interacted with the US Coast Guard’s Maritime Engagement team.
The Talwar’s arrival in Bahrain was much awaited, as the warship had just completed a rescue mission in the Gulf of Oman . MV Nayan, a mercan ship with seven Indian crew members on board was adrift since March 9 in the Gulf of Oman following failure of the ship’s propulsion and power generation systems. The cargo ship was traveling from Oman to Iraq.
Faced with the emergency, INS Talwar, then deployed in the Gulf of Oman, went into Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mode. “Based on preliminary aerial assessment about the distress of MV Nayan, the Indian Naval ship dispatched its VBSS (Visit Board, Search and Seizure) team along with a technical team by boat to offer assistance to the vessel that had seven Indians as her crew,” an Indian Navy spokesperson said.
During a ship visit, Piyush Srivastava, India’s ambassador to Bahrain praised the crew of the Talwar for providing timely assistance of MV Nayan at Sea. He also remarked that the presence of the ship in the Gulf region provides reassurance to the maritime community. The ship also undertook the Harbour phase for planning the Passage exercise (PASSEX) with Royal Bahrain Naval Force involving exchange of Signals and manoeuvring at Close quarters. An official statement said that the Talwar will continue to be deployed in the Gulf region to support Indian flagged merchant ships in the region.
The Talwar’s visit to Bahrain follows the voyage to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month by INS Pralaya—a Prabal class missile attack vessel. The Pralaya was in the UAE—India’s rapidly evolving strategic partner—to participate in the Naval Defence Exhibition-21 (NAVDEX 21) .
With the wheels of naval diplomacy turning rapidly, the UAE is participating with India and France in the Varuna naval exercise later this month. During these high profile manoeuvres, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is expected to be the star, signalling the European power’s growing interest in the Indian Ocean and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
