Singh called for collective efforts towards threats to security & stability in the Indian Ocean Region

India is ready to supply missiles and other weapon systems to friendly Indian Ocean Region (IOR) countries, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the IOR+ Defence Ministers’ Conclave which he hosted on the sidelines of 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, he said India is willing to work with all the stakeholders to ensure a rules-based maritime order to the benefit of all in the region.

"India is ready to supply various types of Missile systems, Light Combat Aircrafts/Helicopters, Multi-Purpose Light Transport aircraft, Warship and Patrol Vessels, Artillery Gun systems, Tanks, Radars, Military Vehicles, Electronic Warfare Systems and other weapons systems to the friendly IOR countries,” Singh said.

Defence Minister Singh called for collective efforts towards addressing the present and emerging threats to security & stability in the IOR. Listing out "shared challenges in the IOR", he referred to the spread of terrorism through sea routes, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, piracy and regional and global food security.

He pointed out that when peace and security of any region is threatened, the entire world feels its impact in multiple ways. The recent Ukrainian conflict showed how its ripple effects could adversely impact the energy and food security for the most vulnerable countries, Singh explained.

"Similarly, failing states pose a challenge not only to their region, but also to the world at large, since these states may act as nurseries of terrorism, piracy and trafficking. We believe that engaging our partner countries through forums like this allows us to appreciate each other's concerns and helps create a global order which is beneficial to all of us,” he said.

In his welcome remarks, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar highlighted the crucial role of the Indian Ocean as a civilisational link across the globe. He said, India’s growing global integration means that the Indian Ocean is one of the top policy priorities.

The conclave was attended by 40 countries, with 22 ministers addressing the conference, some of them in hybrid mode. The broad theme was ‘Challenges Opportunities and Collaborations in the Indian Ocean’.

According to the Ministry of Defence, it facilitated dialogue towards fostering a stable and peaceful Indian Ocean, with strategic and commercial partnerships within the IOR, in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).