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.