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What is Operation Sankalp? Indian Navy’s Operation in Persian Gulf
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: September 25th, 2023
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Know all about Indian Navy’s Operation Sankalp, it is a very important topic for UPSC CDS, AFCAT, CAPF exams. In exams, the questions can be asked about Operation Sankalp, Persian Gulf, The Gulf of Oman, its location. Questions can also be asked about the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region.
What is Operation Sankalp?
Following the latest maritime events in the region, the Indian Navy initiated ‘Operation Sankalp’ in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman as a measure to ensure the safety and security of Indian ships.
The operation was initiated in the aftermath of escalating tension in the Oman Gulf, where two oil tankers were later killed. The U.S. believes that Iran is liable for the attacks, increasing tensions between the two nations.
Indian Navy Ships INS Chennai and INS Sunayna were deployed to undertake maritime security operations in the Gulf of Oman and the Gulf of Persia. Furthermore, Indian Naval aircraft aerial surveillance is also being carried out in the region.
The Information Fusion Center-Indian Ocean Region also closely monitors ship motion in the Gulf region.
The Persian Gulf:
Also, known as the Arabian Gulf, it is an Indian Ocean’s shallow marginal sea between the Arabian Peninsula and southeastern Iran.
Its length is approximately 990 km and its width in the Strait of Hormuz differs from a maximum of about 340 km to a minimum of 55 km.
It is bordered by Iran on the north, north-east, and east; by Oman and the United Arab Emirates on the south-east and south; by Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on the south-west and west; and by Kuwait and Iraq on the north-west.
The region has two-thirds of the world’s estimated established reserves of oil and one-third of the world’s estimated established reserves of natural gas.
A considerable amount of sea trade passes through the gulf, leading to heavy traffic in the region.
There remains incessant traffic of large tankers that carry oil from the large marine terminals situated in Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and other locations to all parts of the world.
The Gulf of Oman:
- The Gulf of Oman lies between the eastern portion of the Arabian Peninsula (Oman) and Iran.
- It is 560 km long and connects through the Strait of Hormuz with the Persian Gulf.
- It is an oil-producing region around the Persian Gulf shipping route. It provides the only entrance into the Persian Gulf from the Arab Sea and the Indian Ocean, so the world’s largest oil exporters and importers have a common interest in its safety.
Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region:
The Indian Defence Minister inaugurated an Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) which is located in Gurugram at the Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC).
The Objective of IFC-IOR:
The primary objective of IFC for the Indian Ocean Region is monitoring the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The Indian Ocean has increasingly become a bone of contention between different countries, which suffers threats from natural disasters, piracy, terrorism and tracking. IFC-IOR will provide a proper way to tackle these challenges through collaborative and cooperative efforts
India has signed White Shipping Agreements with 36 countries & 3 multinational agencies which provide details of all commercial ships passing through the ports in their region. IMAC also gathers information inputs from long-range identification and tracking mechanism under the International Maritime Organisation.
Currently, the software used for IMAC is procured internationally, but soon it will be replaced by a BEL-developed indigenous software called “Sangraha”.
The fact that 75% of the world’s maritime trade and 50% of global oil consumption passes through the Indian Ocean Region which proves the significance of guarding the IOR. Keeping in mind the scale of the challenges in the Indian Ocean Region, collaborative efforts between different countries is essential.
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