Indian naval visit

Indian naval visit

The arrival of an Indian naval squadron in Tanjung Priok
Harbor in Jakarta Bay led by the aircraft carrier INS Viraat as
its flagship presents the most impressive display of India's
growing maritime strength since the visit of the cruiser INS
Delhi in June 1950.

At that time, the INS Delhi had a VVIP on board in the person
of Prime Minister Jawarlal Nehru himself, who was paying his
first official visit to Indonesia. That visit was a clear message
from New Delhi to the European colonial powers, and especially to
the remaining vestiges of Dutch colonial power in this country,
that India would solidly support an independent Indonesia, whose
sovereignty had gained international recognition only a few
months before.

While PM Nehru's visit on board the INS Delhi 55 years ago
carried a clear political message to the Western colonial powers
in Asia that the "Vasco da Gama era" (a phrase coined by the
Indian historian and distinguished diplomat K.M. Pannikar) had
reached its final chapter, how should we interpret the INS
Viraat's current visit?

This visit of the aircraft carrier INS Viraat with the Indian
chief of the naval staff, Adm. Arun Prakash, on board is a
substantial event whose significance goes well beyond a run-of-
the-mill showing-the-flag exercise, which is what navies
traditionally do during such visits. It is currently now becoming
a cliche to refer to India and China as the two emerging powers
that could at some time in the mid-21st century alter the
geopolitical map of the Asia-Pacific region.

And while it is good to know that both New Delhi and Beijing
are anxiously deepening and widening their mutual cooperative
endeavors, we also observe how these two emerging superpowers are
competing for access to energy sources. This also means that they
are both striving to consolidate their respective spheres of
influence.

While democratic India, for example, is anxious to tap into
Myanmar's offshore gas resources to the point of turning a blind
eye to Yangon's human rights violations, China on the other hand
has long been a staunch supporter of Myanmar and is currently
building a harbor and naval base facing the Bay of Bengal.

Given the shift currently taking place in the geopolitical
balance of power in the region, the visit of the Indian naval
squadron is an opportune reminder for Indonesia to make the
fullest possible use of the many possibilities that now exist for
cooperation with India.

Considering that India's relations with the United States have
significantly improved since the visit of the Indian defense
minister, Pranab Mukherjee, to Washington last month and that of
Prime Minister Monahan Singh to the U.S. capital early this
month, Indonesia could indirectly benefit from the new
opportunities that have opened up, especially since both those
visits have resulted in significant agreements that will enhance
India's military capabilities and scientific prowess.

The arrival of such an impressive Indian naval squadron in
Indonesian waters while President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is
visiting the People's Republic of China is surely an indication
that, given the interesting geopolitical shifts that are sure to
affect the overall balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region,
Indonesia must be smart and nimble in formulating and
implementing its politico-military strategy so as to further the
country's national interests.