Mission Sagar-II: INS AIRAVAT enters Port Sudan

On October 2, 2020, the Indian Naval Ship Airavat entered Port Sudan as part of Mission Sagar Phase II. Under Mission Sagar, India is currently providing assistance to its friendly foreign countries to help them overcome COVID-19 pandemic and natural calamities. INS Airavat was carrying a consignment of 100 tonnes of food aid.

Highlights

In phase II of Mission Sagar, INS Ship Airavat will deliver food aid to Sudan, Djibouti, South Sudan and Eritrea. This phase is being implemented in close coordination with the Ministries of External Affairs and Ministry of Defence.

Under the first phase of Mission Sagar, India reached out to countries such as Seychelles, Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Maldives. During this phase, India provided free food aid and medicines. In Phase I of the mission, INS Kesari was deployed.

Mission SAGAR

SAGAR is Security and Growth for All in the Region. It was launched in 2015 under strategic vision of Indian Ocean Region. Under SAGAR, India aims to strengthen its economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbours. Also, India will safeguard national interests in the Indian Ocean Region. It will ensure Indian Ocean Region becomes collaborative, inclusive respecting international law.

When Mission SAGAR is seen in conjunction with India’s other policies such as Project Sagarmala, Project Mausam, Act East Policy, focus on Blue Economy and India as a net security provider, the mission has huge impacts in the maritime domain.

Project Sagarmala

Sagarmala aims to develop a string of ports around the coasts of India. The main objective of the initiative is to promote port led development in the 7,500 km long coastline of the country. The development is to be achieved through expansion of inland waterways, rail, road and coastal services. The Ministry of Shipping is the nodal agency implementing the scheme

A Sagarmala Development Company has been established to provide support to assist the projects.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2020