No Indian-flagged vessels or vessels plying to Indian ports have been targeted by the Houthis at sea
Since December last year, the Navy has increased the deployment of its warships and personnel in the regions covering Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden to the North Arabian Sea and to the East Coast of Somalia for anti-piracy, anti-hijacking and anti-drone operations.the Indian Express reported
Stability Operations
CITING THE last 100 days of maritime security operations undertaken by the Navy in the Arabian Sea under Operation Sankalp, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said it has broken the myth of short and swift operations and underlined the need for sustained operations to ensure safety and stability in the ocean.
Addressing the media, he said no Indian-flagged vessels or vessels plying to Indian ports have been targeted by the Houthis at sea and piracy has resurfaced as an industry
Resurfaced Piracy
On the other hand a senior Italian Navy official, Piracy has resurfaced as most ships are being diverted from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the Cape of Good Hope Route due to Houthi attacks on Red Sea Shipping.
Reduction in pirate attacks
Vice Admiral Aurelio De Carolis, Commander-in-Chief of the Italian fleet spoke to the media aboard the Italian Aircraft Carrier ITS Cavour at Mormugao Port, Goa, stating that there was a reduction in pirate attacks on ships sailing in the Indian Ocean till 2 years ago.
The Italian Navy’s Carrier Strike Group consists of ITS Cavour and frigate ITS Alpino docked at Mormugao Port’s Berth 9 for a port call as the units are deployed in the Indo-Pacific.
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Somali Basin
He added that there are other regions in the world known for piracy like Malacca Strait or the Gulf of Guinea, but the situation is different in the Somali Basin. Due to a diversion of shipping traffic from the Red Sea, to the Cape of Good Hope route, piracy has re-emerged in the region.
Maritime security
Vice Admiral Carolis mentioned that the focus of the Italian Navy is the Mediterranean since there are about 40 naval ships including submarines operating in the region.
Also, all commerce that goes via the Red Sea gets into the Mediterranean so they are committed to undertaking maritime security operations to ensure a safe passage not just for Italian vessels but for all ships connected to European Union Nations, he added.
Tackling piracy.
He also appreciated the Indian Navy and said it is ‘doing an excellent job’ in tackling piracy.
Rear Admiral Giancarlo Ciappina, the Italian Navy Carrier Strike Group Commander stated that the Indian and Italian Navies will undertake bilateral maritime exercises on October 5th and 6th, 2024, off the western coast of India.
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Aboard the Cavour
The 2-day event will focus on air defence, maritime manoeuvres and joint operations between the air wings of both navies
Ciappina added that they were calling on a few subject matter experts from the Indian Navy aboard the Cavour. Both navies were engaged in information exchange and planned several activities.
It will also involve 2 carriers and integration of their air wings, a few exercises in air defence and sea manoeuvres. The officials of both the navies will also meet and discuss each other’s ways of flight and naval operations.
References: PTI News, Indian Express
