Indian naval visit<\/p>\n
The arrival of an Indian naval squadron in Tanjung Priok
\nHarbor in Jakarta Bay led by the aircraft carrier INS Viraat as
\nits flagship presents the most impressive display of India's
\ngrowing maritime strength since the visit of the cruiser INS
\nDelhi in June 1950.<\/p>\n
At that time, the INS Delhi had a VVIP on board in the person
\nof Prime Minister Jawarlal Nehru himself, who was paying his
\nfirst official visit to Indonesia. That visit was a clear message
\nfrom New Delhi to the European colonial powers, and especially to
\nthe remaining vestiges of Dutch colonial power in this country,
\nthat India would solidly support an independent Indonesia, whose
\nsovereignty had gained international recognition only a few
\nmonths before.<\/p>\n
While PM Nehru's visit on board the INS Delhi 55 years ago
\ncarried a clear political message to the Western colonial powers
\nin Asia that the \"Vasco da Gama era\" (a phrase coined by the
\nIndian historian and distinguished diplomat K.M. Pannikar) had
\nreached its final chapter, how should we interpret the INS
\nViraat's current visit?<\/p>\n
This visit of the aircraft carrier INS Viraat with the Indian
\nchief of the naval staff, Adm. Arun Prakash, on board is a
\nsubstantial event whose significance goes well beyond a run-of-
\nthe-mill showing-the-flag exercise, which is what navies
\ntraditionally do during such visits. It is currently now becoming
\na cliche to refer to India and China as the two emerging powers
\nthat could at some time in the mid-21st century alter the
\ngeopolitical map of the Asia-Pacific region.<\/p>\n
And while it is good to know that both New Delhi and Beijing
\nare anxiously deepening and widening their mutual cooperative
\nendeavors, we also observe how these two emerging superpowers are
\ncompeting for access to energy sources. This also means that they
\nare both striving to consolidate their respective spheres of
\ninfluence.<\/p>\n
While democratic India, for example, is anxious to tap into
\nMyanmar's offshore gas resources to the point of turning a blind
\neye to Yangon's human rights violations, China on the other hand
\nhas long been a staunch supporter of Myanmar and is currently
\nbuilding a harbor and naval base facing the Bay of Bengal.<\/p>\n
Given the shift currently taking place in the geopolitical
\nbalance of power in the region, the visit of the Indian naval
\nsquadron is an opportune reminder for Indonesia to make the
\nfullest possible use of the many possibilities that now exist for
\ncooperation with India.<\/p>\n
Considering that India's relations with the United States have
\nsignificantly improved since the visit of the Indian defense
\nminister, Pranab Mukherjee, to Washington last month and that of
\nPrime Minister Monahan Singh to the U.S. capital early this
\nmonth, Indonesia could indirectly benefit from the new
\nopportunities that have opened up, especially since both those
\nvisits have resulted in significant agreements that will enhance
\nIndia's military capabilities and scientific prowess.<\/p>\n
The arrival of such an impressive Indian naval squadron in
\nIndonesian waters while President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is
\nvisiting the People's Republic of China is surely an indication
\nthat, given the interesting geopolitical shifts that are sure to
\naffect the overall balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region,
\nIndonesia must be smart and nimble in formulating and
\nimplementing its politico-military strategy so as to further the
\ncountry's national interests.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indian-naval-visit-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}