“India Working with Regional Navies for Stability of Indo-Pacific: Navy Vice Chief”, Sunday Guardian, October 26, 2025
“Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, AVSM, NM, who assumed charge as the 47th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS), the second highest post of the Indian Navy, in August this year, spoke to The Sunday Guardian exclusively on the constructive role that the Indian Navy is playing in the Indo-Pacific, especially in terms of enabling partner navies to perform their maritime responsibilities successfully. The VCNS’ interview comes ahead of the Indian Navy’s Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2025 being held on 28-30 October in New Delhi. Started in 2018, IPRD is a part of Indian Navy’s international outreach framework, and sees participation from nations across the Indo-Pacific to discuss this geopolitically crucial region. Prior to taking over as the VCNS, Vice Admiral Vatsayan served as Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (DCIDS)—Operations, and thereafter as DCIDS (Policy, Plans and Force Development) at HQ IDS.
Q: Sir, the 2025 edition of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) is said to be addressing the “capacity building and resource sharing” pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. What does the phrase “capacity building meets capability enhancement” mean in the context of IPRD 2025?
A: The phrase “capacity building meets capability enhancement” in the context of IPRD 2025 reflects the Indian Navy’s comprehensive approach under the Prime Minister’s MAHASAGAR vision to empower regional partners through both material and operational means. Capacity building focuses on the physical and institutional enablers of maritime security—provisioning of patrol vessels, interceptor craft, and aircraft; creation of shore, repair and training infrastructure; and development of maritime domain awareness networks, radar chains, and communication systems. These initiatives strengthen the basic maritime architecture of partner nations. Capability enhancement complements this by advancing the human and operational dimensions of cooperation. It includes professional training and exchanges, operational sea training, joint exercises, deployment of mobile training teams, hydrographic cooperation, and Joint EEZ Surveillance. Together, these efforts ensure that the capacities created are effectively employed and sustained. This synthesis of hardware, human skill and shared knowledge under the overarching SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR frameworks encapsulates India’s maritime engagement philosophy—building enduring partnerships that combine growth with security for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Q: How is the Indian Navy translating this theme into real, actionable cooperation with partner nations?
A: The Indian Navy remains deeply committed to actualizing the theme of “capacity building meets capability enhancement” through sustained, outcome-oriented partnerships with friendly foreign navies. Our approach is comprehensive from providing assets and infrastructure support to delivering extensive training and skill development programmes, and ensuring “womb-to-tomb” assistance that keeps these platforms at peak operational readiness. Regular Staff Talks with partner nations help us identify specific needs and tailor cooperative programmes accordingly Initiatives such as Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR and deployment of Mobile Training Teams have become vital enablers of regional maritime capability enhancement. Training continues to be the bedrock of these engagements. Officers and sailors from across the region undergo specialised courses at the Indian Naval Academy and other professional schools, while our training teams travel abroad to deliver bespoke modules on seamanship, damage control, navigation, and advanced operational procedures. Over the past year, we’ve seen tangible results. A major milestone was the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR deployment earlier this year, wherein INS Sunayna operated with a combined crew from nine friendly foreign countries i.e. Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. The monthlong deployment covered joint EEZ surveillance with Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles, along with port calls, operational drills, and onboard training that built handson skills in navigation, seamanship, and watchkeeping. This was complemented by the maiden Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) exercise at Dar-es-Salaam, co-hosted with Tanzania and joined by 10 African nations. The exercise featured realistic anti-piracy, SAR, and VBSS operations, enhancing interoperability and regional readiness. Our Headquarters Sea Training (FOST) also plays a pivotal role by extending operational sea training support to partner navies, both in India and overseas. Together, these engagements have underscored the Navy’s commitment to nurturing collective capability and maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region, transforming intent into action, and partnerships into enduring capability outcomes……”
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