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We are looking at regional solutions to regional problems, says Navy chief Admiral Kumar

Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar stressed that contemporary challenges in the maritime domain could be best addressed by “issue-based convergences” among like-minded countries, while highlighting the advantages of “regional solutions to regional problems”.

The Chief of Navy Staff, citing India’s experience, said working in smaller groups and regional frameworks is helpful in building trust, interoperability and overall outcome.

He was speaking at the Raisina Dialogue alongside Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino, the UK’s chief of Naval Staff Admiral Ben Key and Chief of Staff of Japan’s defence ministry Gen Koji Yamazaki.

Admiral Kumar said India’s policy in the region is based on the principles of respect, dialogue, peace and prosperity and it is guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of SAGAR or security and growth for all in the region.

“There is a need for cooperation.. that is something we in the maritime domain always look forward to - to find how to cooperate, how to work together,” he said.

“While doing this, I would say today we are looking at issue-based convergences. We may not agree on certain things, but we will agree on many other issues. Therefore, we come together on those matters,” he added.

“We are looking at regional solutions to regional problems,” he said Admiral Kumar also referred to the US Navy back in 2015 talking about a thousand-ship Navy including all the friendly partner navies coming together.

The Navy chief also cited the advantages of regional groupings like the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), which has 25 partner countries, the Colombo Security Conclave and the Goa Maritime Conclave.