IOS SAGAR: INS Sunayna Leads 16-Nation Indian Ocean Mission
Why in the news
With the West Asia conflict disturbing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the Navy sent off INS Sunayna as Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR. Sixteen nations take part, with the aim of firmer maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Key facts
- Vessel: INS Sunayna, designated IOS SAGAR.
- Scale: a 16-nation initiative for regional maritime cooperation.
- Trigger: conflict in West Asia and disruption near the Strait of Hormuz.
Background concepts
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| SAGAR vision | Security and Growth for All in the Region; India’s 2015 strategic policy for the Indian Ocean |
| Strait of Hormuz | Choke point between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman; the most important oil transit route |
| Non-traditional threats | Piracy, narco-trafficking and illegal fishing, which are not state-versus-state war |
| EEZ | Zone extending 200 nautical miles from the coast where the country manages resources |
Concerns
- Deep-sea research near a coast can hide illegal mapping of resources inside an EEZ.
- IUU fishing (illegal, unreported and unregulated) is a rising challenge, and threatens food security and the blue economy of developing coastal states.
- About one-fifth of the world’s oil use passes through Hormuz, so disruption lifts energy prices.
Exam angle
- Ship in news: INS Sunayna as IOS SAGAR.
- Full form: SAGAR, Security and Growth for All in the Region.
- Related terms: IOR, choke point, EEZ, IUU fishing.