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Shashank Sharma, Senior Fellow, VIF
Shashank Sharma is a Senior Fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), New Delhi. He has held various afloat, training and staff appointments in the Indian Navy. He holds a Masters in Nautical Science from Cochin University of Science and Technology and Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Madras University. He is an alumnus of Defence Services and Staff College. His research focus is the role of maritime-military domain in furthering regional security and India’s National Interests in the Indian Ocean and the Asia-Pacific region.

Shashank Sharma is a Senior Fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), New Delhi. He has held various afloat, training and staff appointments in the Indian Navy. He holds a Masters in Nautical Science from Cochin University of Science and Technology and Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Madras University. He is an alumnus of Defence Services and Staff College. His research focus is the role of maritime-military domain in furthering regional security and India’s National Interests in the Indian Ocean and the Asia-Pacific region.

Contributions 
Malabar Joint Naval Exercise – A Viable Deterrent of Quad in the Indo Pacific?
October 15, 2021 Shashank Sharma, Senior Fellow, VIF
Malabar 2021 The Phase-II of Indian Navy’s (IN) Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar2021 (25thedition) kicked off in the Bay of Bengal on 12 October 2021 with participation from the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), Royal Aus...

Tags: International Relations and Diplomacy, Indo-Pacific, Article, QUAD, Indian Navy, Exercise Malabar, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, JMSDF, Royal Australian Navy, RAN, United States Navy, USN
India Gifts Submarine to Myanmar – An initiative in Line with the SAGAR Vision for Collective Growth and Security of Maritime Neighbours
October 31, 2020 Shashank Sharma, Senior Fellow, VIF
India is gifting a Russian Kilo class submarine to Myanmar1. The diesel-electric submarine, INS Sindhuvir, was inducted in the Indian Navy in 1988 and continues to be in service. The submarine refurbished by the Hindustan Shipyard Ltd a De...

Tags: International Relations and Diplomacy, Neighbourhood Studies, Myanmar, Maldives, Media Studies, Indian Ocean Region, Article, China, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bay of Bengal, Maritime Security, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Indian Navy, SAGAR, Submarine, INS Sindhuvir, Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, Seychelles, EEZ Surveillance, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
VIF Papers 
People’s Liberation Army Navy - An Overview of Maritime Strategic Thought, Naval Capabilities, Implications of Military Reforms & Naval Operations and Exercises
October 22, 2021 Shashank Sharma, Senior Fellow, VIF
This paper aims to provide an overview of the Chinese maritime strategic thought and naval capabilities that could have a bearing on India’s strategic and security environment, particularly in the Indian Ocean. It provides a broad picture of major ...

Tags: International Relations and Diplomacy, China, PLA Navy, PLA, Asia-Pacific, China Maritime Strategic, PLA Navy Capabilities, Navy Operations, Naval Strategy, China Defence White Papers, Sea power
U.S. Department of Defence Annual Report of 2020 on China’s Military Power: Implications for India’s Maritime Security
November 25, 2020 Shashank Sharma, Senior Fellow, VIF
The US Department of Defence (DoD) Annual Report of 2020 on China Military Power released in September 2020 brings out China’s meteoric military progress in recent years. The report states that China is already ahead of the United States in certain...

Tags: National Security and Strategic Studies, Defence, Maritime Security, Indian Navy, Atmanirbhar Bharat, US Department of Defence Annual Report, China Military Power, Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 (DAP-2020), PLA(Navy)
Event Reports 
Vimarsh - Role of the Indian Army in dealing with the Contemporary National Security Challenges by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC (Chief of the Army Staff)
February 28, 2021 Shashank Sharma, Senior Fellow, VIF
The Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC spoke on the “Role of the Indian Army (IA) in dealing with the Contemporary National Security Challenges” during the Vimarsh series of lecture organised by VIF on 24 F...

Tags: Vimarsh, National Security and Strategic Studies, Defence, Indian Army, insurgency, Northeast, Chief of Army Staff, Cyber Agency
Vimarsh on Changing Contours of Competition and Conflict - Implications for Indian Navy by Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS)
January 30, 2021 Shashank Sharma, Senior Fellow, VIF
As part of Vimarsh series of lectures on 21 Jan 2021, Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff spoke on “Changing Contours of Competition and Conflict - Implications for Indian Navy”. Admiral Karambir Singh brought out...

Tags: Vimarsh, National Security and Strategic Studies, Defence, Hybrid Warfare, Implications for Indian Navy, Grey zone operations
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