Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday flagged off the Indian Navy’s ambitious mission, Indian Ocean Symposium for SAGAR (IOS SAGAR), and inaugurated vital infrastructure projects worth nearly ₹2,000 crore at the strategically significant Karwar naval base in Karnataka.
Speaking at the event, Singh described the launch of IOS SAGAR as a manifestation of India’s enduring commitment to “peace, prosperity and collective security in the maritime domain”.
“Along with other stakeholders, Indian Navy is ensuring peace and prosperity in the region,” he said, while reaffirming New Delhi’s resolve to make the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) “more peaceful and prosperous”.
Singh further added, “It is not just related to our security and national interests, it also points towards the equality of rights and duties among our friendly countries in the region.”
He underlined the Indian Navy’s role in ensuring that no country dominates others in the IOR by virtue of its economic or military strength.
“Our Navy ensures that, in the Indian Ocean Region, no nation suppresses another on the basis of overwhelming economy and military power. India ensures that nations' interests can be protected, without compromising their sovereignty,” he asserted.
The newly-launched IOS SAGAR mission, undertaken aboard the Indian Navy’s offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna, carries around 120 crew members, including 44 naval personnel from nine friendly foreign nations—Sri Lanka, Kenya, Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and Tanzania.
The nearly month-long deployment in the south-western Indian Ocean is aimed at enhancing cooperation and interoperability with littoral states in line with India’s vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Region (MAHASAGAR). The ship set sail from the shores of Karwar following the flag-off ceremony.
Before the launch, Singh interacted with the multinational crew onboard the Sunayna and commended their spirit and unity. Addressing naval personnel afterwards, he lauded the IOS SAGAR crew, calling them “not just sea riders, but heroes” destined to “take the ship to greater glory” and prove “how by coming together we can make a difference to the security in the region”.
Singh said the mission highlighted India’s role as both a “preferred security partner” and the “first responder” in the Indian Ocean Region.
In addition to the launch, Singh inaugurated a host of modern naval facilities under the Navy’s flagship infrastructure initiative, Project Seabird. Valued at nearly ₹2,000 crore, the upgrades include nine piers, advanced marine utilities, trunk infrastructure, and 480 dwelling units for sailors and defence civilian personnel.
A senior Navy official described the developments as “a key milestone in India’s defence capabilities” and “a giant leap towards strengthening national security and self-reliance”.
Later in the day, the Defence Minister addressed senior naval leadership during the first phase of the Naval Commanders’ Conference 2025.
“It is our responsibility to ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific as the region has become a focal point for the world,” he told the gathering.
In March 2024, Singh had inaugurated several other infrastructure projects at the same base. The first phase of Project Seabird—aimed at berthing 10 ships—was completed in 2011. Phase-IIA, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, will accommodate 32 ships and submarines along with 23 yardcraft, according to the Ministry of Defence.
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