By: Lt Col JS Sodhi (Retd), Editor, GSDN
The India Ocean has witnessed strong regional trade and collaboration across millennia, with sea-based trade across the countries of the region playing a central role in the growth of civilisations, global prosperity as well as the spread of science, arts and culture. The potential of the region has also drawn the attention of both states, as well as non-state actors, who seek to leverage these opportunities for their own gain. This has been a significant cause for concern for a number of the region’s countries, who have not yet developed adequate security capacities to safeguard their entitlements.
India has recognised this common security challenge to regional maritime security and committed to working with its partners in a collaborative, inclusive and proactive manner to address these concerns. For over a decade, the Vision of SAGAR, or Security And Growth for All in the Region, has guided diplomatic outreach in security, trade and cultural domains. On Mar 25, 2025 the Prime Minster of India Narendra Modi announced the expansion of this vision to MAHASAGAR – Mutual And Holistic Advancement for SAGAR while speaking to the global audience from Mauritius. It is under this restated vision, that the Indian Navy is set to flag off the first ever Indian Ocean Ship – SAGAR on its maiden IOR security mission.
IOR Sagar, will be a multi-national mission, with over forty personnel from ten IOR countries joining as team members on an Indian Naval warship, on a month-long mission to promote regional maritime security. This ship will sail to multiple counties in the South Western Indian Ocean, undertaking a wide range of security missions, independently as well as together with maritime forces from other nations.
IOS Sagar is a significant new initiative of the Indian Navy, with several important characteristics. The ship itself is an Indian Naval platform, which is being dedicated exclusively for regional security initiatives for the duration of the mission. This is a significant allocation of capabilities, which underscores the Navy’s intent to be a credible and reliable contributor to regional maritime security. While the majority of the crew will be personnel from the IN, the forty crew members from nine other partner nations–Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and South Africa – will form an integral part of the crew, and join in all aspects of the ship’s functioning.
This multi-national nature of the crew is what makes IOS Sagar truly unique. It is a truly IOR led effort, at addressing security concerns which affect all nations in the region. The ship, by virtue of its multinational team, will be able to make more effective contributions in its endeavours, as there will be a better understanding of issues, from diverse perspectives, including from representatives of some affected states. Even more significant is the enhanced mutual trust and understanding which will be realized by the teams who live and work together onboard. The Indian Navy has already signalled its deep trust in its partners by conceptualizing the idea of IOS Sagar, and the outcomes of this mission could guide all future efforts towards collective maritime security. Collaborative efforts, based on mutual trust and cooperation, would undoubtedly help countries across the region harness their vast potential and sustain their plans for growth and development.
The region’s security in the present day is characterized by growing tensions and competition. Established and emerging powers are locked in a contest for geo-strategic and geo-economic advantage, which does not always augur well for the smaller, less developed economies in the region. Chinese efforts to acquire a military foothold through economic coercion across coastal states in African continent is a case in point. As an extra regional force, PLA Navy seeks to expand its footprint in the IOR, claiming to usher in peace and prosperity. However, such efforts by China are only self-serving and aims to prospers itself at the cost of smaller nation.
In such an atmosphere, there is a felt need to establish adequate regional security capabilities, which are not dependent on extra-regional powers, who may not share the concerns and risks of the countries in the region. Moreover, as nationalism and protectionism gain ground in some regions, it is becoming increasingly clear that regional solutions are essential to ensure regional security.
IOS Sagar is a novel concept, which seeks to overcome regional limitations by sharing of resources, pooling of capabilities and working in unison. This ship is a powerful model for naval diplomacy, where, the commitment of the Indian Navy to work in complete sync with its partners, towards achieving positive security outcomes for everyone on the region, is underscored and spotlighted. Moreover, it epitomizes India’s view of how it aspires to lead the region – in collaboration with its partners, with equal respect for all and positive collective outcomes. The IOS Sagar is a significant new effort, which could well be a watershed moment for regional security efforts in the Indian Ocean.
