NEW DELHI: In a firm response to Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir's warning against any "future misadventure" from India, Indian Navy chief-designate Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan has asserted that "misadventure does not come anywhere or anytime from India" and emphasized the country's readiness to counter and quell any "misadventure" from across the border.
India's Stance on Misadventure
Vice Admiral Swaminathan, who will take over as the Navy chief after Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi's retirement on May 31, stated, "...India has always been in a responding kind of mode. Such actions (misadventures) come from across the border. People can say what they want, but as far as we are concerned, India will remain prepared."
Operation Sindoor and Terrorism
Speaking at a defence event organized by Bramha Research Foundation in Mumbai on Monday, the Vice Admiral highlighted that India has been a victim of terrorism for years. He noted that Operation Sindoor was specifically targeted at terror camps and terrorists involved in the Pahalgam terror attack. The country cannot accept terrorist activities, especially when they originate from foreign soil, he said, pointing out that Operation Sindoor is continuing.
Global Security and Indian Ocean
In the context of the current global situation, the Vice Admiral said that the global security environment is undergoing profound changes. Outlining that nearly 95% of India's trade by volume and roughly 70% by value continues to transit on the seas, he emphasized that India's competitiveness depends on safe lanes. "The Indian Ocean is, and has always been, India's arena. Today, the Indo-Pacific has emerged as a defining theatre of 21st-century geopolitics. The Indian Ocean is becoming even more contested, more watched and more consequential. The Indian Navy is the guardian of this domain," he said.
Defence Opportunities for MSMEs
On defence opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), he remarked, "I just think that it takes some time for MSMEs to find the momentum. Producing defence-grade equipment in any country is not something that you do fast; you've got to do it slowly, methodically... (Our) specifications are very stringent. You don't get anything off the shelf. Everything needs to be made from an idea. And, therefore, most industries in the world do take some time for technologies to mature."
