Indian Navy stands alone as guardian in Indian Ocean

The Indian Navy showed off its impressive skills this weekend by saving a commercial ship from pirates near Somalia. They rescued 17 crew members from the MV Ruen during a nearly two-day mission, catching dozens of pirates, without anyone getting hurt.

20.03.2024 - 11:26 Created at

20.03.2024 - 14:21 Updated at

Indian Navy stands alone as guardian in Indian Ocean

This big operation used a lot of gear: a navy destroyer, a patrol ship, a big Indian Air Force plane that flew over 1,500 miles to drop marine commandos, drones, a spy drone, and a P-8 surveillance jet.

Experts say this mission proves the Indian Navy is really top-notch, using smart tactics and a variety of tools to get the job done safely.

There's worry that trouble in the Red Sea, with attacks on ships by rebels from Yemen, could distract international forces. This might give Somali pirates a chance to cause trouble in the Horn of Africa, risking billions of dollars for the global economy.

Both Yemen and Somalia have been hit hard by years of civil war, making them among the poorest countries in the region.

The capture of the MV Ruen by Somali pirates last December was their first big ship grab off Somalia since 2017.

Ships from Spain, Japan, and India were watching the Ruen when pirates took it into Somali waters, based on a report from the European Union Naval Force in December.

But when the pirates tried to take the Ruen out to sea last week, the Indian Navy stepped in. They confirmed pirates were on the ship using a drone, which the pirates shot down. After they shot at the Indian navy ship, the navy disabled the Ruen's steering and navigation.

The Indian Navy managed to get the pirates to give up after showing their strength for over 40 hours.

Bulgaria's President thanked India and its Prime Minister Narendra Modi for saving the ship and its crew, including 7 Bulgarians.

Experts say this event shows how skilled the Indian Navy is. They noted that India's marine commandos, known as MARCOS, are super well-trained, with tough training similar to Britain's SAS, and only a small percentage make it through.

The Indian Navy has been fighting piracy for over 20 years, and with ongoing security issues in important shipping lanes, they'll likely need to keep it up.

India has said keeping these waters safe is a big deal for them, especially since it's linked to their economic interests. They're keeping an eye on the situation and making sure their commercial ships are safe.