New Delhi, March 18 (NationPress) The Indian Navy has ramped up its warship deployment in proximity to the Gulf of Oman and is providing protection for Indian-flagged vessels navigating from the Strait of Hormuz region, amid escalating tensions in West Asia that threaten global energy stability.

As reported by government sources, Indian-flagged tankers continue to traverse the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz and safely reach Indian ports with naval protection. The vessels Shivalik, Nanda Devi, and Jag Ladki have successfully docked at Indian ports after being escorted by the Indian Navy.

This deployment has been augmented under the Navy's “mission-based deployment” strategy, which has ensured at least one warship has been stationed near the Gulf of Oman since 2017. However, given the current security dynamics, the Navy has intensified its presence in this area.

Sources indicate that the number of stationed warships has been elevated from one to three and has also seen further increases, though the exact figure remains classified. These warships are primarily designated to escort Indian-flagged vessels through sensitive maritime corridors and guarantee their secure transit to safe waters.

The government also noted that currently, 22 Indian vessels are operating west of the Strait of Hormuz.

As part of the mission-based deployment framework, the Indian Navy maintains a persistent presence in six distinct maritime zones globally. This deployment model has been active since 2017 to bolster maritime security and ensure a rapid response to emerging threats.

Two significant naval operations are also in progress near the Gulf of Oman and the Gulf of Aden under this framework. “Operation Sankalp” is being executed in the Gulf of Oman to safeguard merchant shipping, while an anti-piracy operation is ongoing in the Gulf of Aden.

At an inter-ministerial press briefing concerning the West Asia situation, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that the Indian Navy's presence in the region is primarily focused on anti-piracy missions and is backing various maritime security initiatives.

Further operational support details will be provided by the Ministry of Defence.

In addition to the Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden, other mission-based deployments include a naval presence near Seychelles to protect vessels traveling along the Cape of Good Hope route and to combat piracy threats. Additional deployments are also maintained near the Maldives, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and in the Bay of Bengal near the Myanmar-Bangladesh maritime region.

During these deployments, Indian naval vessels also engage in exercises with allied foreign navies and conduct humanitarian assistance, relief, and rescue operations in response to piracy incidents or maritime emergencies.