VIMARSH: Admiral Sunil Lanba’s talk at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), 23 May 2018

Welcome remarks by Dr Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF

Admiral Sunil Lanba, Admiral KK Nayyar, Distinguished Guests, Members of the Media,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to extend a warm welcome to you all to today’s Vimarsh talk by Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chairman Chief of Staff Committee and the Chief of Naval Staff, on “The role of Indian Navy in the Changing Security Environment”. I am grateful to Admiral Lanba for sharing his valuable time with us today.

Over the years Vimarsh has emerged as a leading platform to facilitate interaction between the eminent people and the general public. The VIF is guided by the life and message of Swami Vivekananda who had a deep and abiding faith in Indian civilization and its spiritual heritage. India is on the threshold of a comprehensive political, economic, social and cultural renaissance. His motto “Rise, awake and move forward” to his countrymen continues to guide us today as it did at the end of the 19 century.

Admiral Sunil Lanba took over as the 23rd Chief of Naval Staff on 31 May 2016. Being the senior most among the Chiefs, he is also the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC). Prior to becoming the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) he was the FOC-in-C Western Naval Command, FOC-in-C Southern Naval Command, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Commandant of National Defence College, Chief of Staff Headquarters Eastern Naval Command and Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command. Commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy on 1 January 1978, Admiral Lanba is a navigation and direction specialist he has served as the navigation and operations officer onboard numerous ships in both the Eastern and Western Fleet.

Admiral Lanba has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) by the President of India.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Indian navy may be the smallest of the three armed forces but it enjoys high visibility and a positive image in the society. Every Indian’s heart was filled with pride when the all-women crew of INS Tarini successfully concluded its round-the-globe sea-voyage a few days ago. The adventurous Tarini ladies have overnight become a source of inspiration for the youth and a national icon for the extra-ordinary resolve they showed in completing this challenging trip. The Indian navy also deserves congratulations of the successful conduct of MILAN-2018 exercises which brought together ships and delegates from sixteen countries and raised India’s security profile in the world.

India’s security environment has become exceedingly complex. The global and regional environment is uncertain. The shifting balance of power in Asia is having a visible impact on Indian Armed Forces. The entry of China into the Indian Ocean is a development of great importance. India is emerging as a net security provider.

The salience of maritime security is India’s national security is rising. India’s strategic space now cover the entire region of Indo-pacific. Indian Maritime Security Strategy, published by the Indian Navy in Oct 2016, put forward a revised strategy which includes a strategy for deterrence, strategy for dealing for conflicts, shaping a favourable and positive maritime environment, coastal and offshore security, force and capability development. A coordinated approach involving the Navy and the numeral other government agencies as well as international partners will be required to achieve these objectives.

Friends, we could not have any one better than Admiral Sunil Lanba to give us a perspective on the evolving role of the Indian Navy in India’s national security matrix.

I invite Admiral Sunil Lanba address us.