MISSION SAGAR - II
As part of ‘Mission Sagar-II’, the Government of India is providing assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries to overcome natural calamities and Covid-19 pandemic. Towards the same INS Airavat is delivering food aid for the people of Sudan. Mission Sagar-II follows the first ‘Mission Sagar’ undertaken in 2020. As part of Mission Sagar-II, Indian Naval Ship Airavat will deliver food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea.
India had launched Mission Sagar on May 10 to provide assistance to the five island nations amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The five island nations are Mauritius, Maldives, Madagascar, Seychelles, and Comoros. The mission is part of the Indian government’s outreach initiative to help the island nations in the Indian Ocean during the health crisis. As per the Ministry of Defence (MOD) statement, the naval ship has departed to provide the COVID related medicines such as HCQ tablets, special Ayurvedic medicines, and food items along with the medical assistance teams.
Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles along with La Reunion are part of Indian Ocean Commission. India has recently become an observer to the Commission. The assistance is in line with India’s role as the first responder in the Indian Ocean region. The deployment is also in consonance with the Prime Minister's vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). Earlier, India had sent Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari, carrying food items and medical assistance teams, to countries in the southern Indian Ocean to deal with Covid-19 pandemic as part of a "Mission Sagar" initiative.
BACKGROUND OF THE MISSION
In 2015, Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision was launched by the Government of India to deepen economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbors. Also, the mission seeks in building maritime security capabilities with these neighbors. The Mission Sagar assistance is in line with India’s role as the first responder in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It highlights the importance accorded by India to relations with its neighbouring countries and further strengthens the existing bond. The Mission involves two major ministries of India-- Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs-- along with several other Government agencies. Through SAGAR, India seeks to deepen economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbours and assist in building their maritime security capabilities. Further, India seeks to safeguard its national interests and ensure Indian Ocean region to become inclusive, collaborative and respect international law. The key relevance of SAGAR emerges when seen in conjunction with India’s other policies impacting the maritime domain like Act East Policy, Project Sagarmala, Project Mausam, India as ‘net security provider’, focus on Blue Economy etc.
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF ISLAND COUNTRIES
The strategic importance of these island nations is highlighted by their location along key Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs). These islands are vital and can facilitate a navy’s continuous presence along key international shipping routes, allowing a navy to patrol and secure SLOCs during peace times and an option to interdict and cut off an adversary’s communications during times of conflict.
The execution of Mission Sagar can be seen as India’s step in being the first provider in the neighboring island nations during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will further help in building excellent relations between the countries. The deployment of the naval ship is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of SAGAR- Security and Growth for all in the Region, which came in effect in March 2015.
It highlights India’s relations with its neighboring countries and strengthens the existing bond. The operation mission Sagar has been progressed in the close relations with the External Affairs, Ministry of Defence and other agencies of the Indian government.
RELATED MISSIONS & INITIATIVES
India on the 65th anniversary of the landmark Bandung Conference emphasized that members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) must work to reduce the socio-economic impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable sections of society and promote South-South cooperation. In the wake of the global pandemic, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) responded by setting up ISA CARES (like PM-CARES in India), an initiative dedicated to the deployment of solar energy in the healthcare sector.
With Covid-19 and trade tensions between China and the United States are threatening supply chains; Japan has mooted the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) as a trilateral approach to trade, with India and Australia as the key-partners. The Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness for Innovation (CEPI), a global initiative, has named Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad as one of the six laboratories for assessing Covid-19 vaccine candidates that are under development. India has contributed 10 million USD to SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund and manufactured essential drugs, Covid protection and testing kits, for countries in the SAARC region (Eg. Operation Sanjeevani for Maldives).
IMPORTANT GROUPINGS WITH INDIAN OCEAN REGIONS
Indian Ocean Rim Association: The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) was established in 1997. It is aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region.
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium: The ‘Indian Ocean Naval Symposium’ (IONS) is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues.
Indian Ocean Commission: Recently, India has been approved as an observer of the Indian Ocean Commission, the inter-governmental organization that coordinates maritime governance in the south-western Indian Ocean.
Asia Africa Growth Corridor: The idea of Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) emerged in the joint declaration issued by India and Japan in 2016. The AAGC is raised on four pillars of Development and Cooperation Projects, Quality Infrastructure and Institutional Connectivity, Enhancing Capacities and Skills and People-to-People partnership.
QUESTIONS (1-5)
Q.1 Which of the following missions is initiated by the Government of India for providing assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries to overcome natural calamities and Covid-19 pandemic?
A. Mission Sagar: ANSWER
B. Mission Sagar mala
C. Project Mausam
D. None of the above
Q.2 Recently, the Government of India have started the 'Phase-II of Mission Sagar'. Which of the following countries is not covered under the phase-II of the mission?
A. Sudan
B. South Sudan
C. Mauritius: ANSWER
D. Djibouti
Q.3 The Indian Ocean Commission is an intergovernmental organization that links African Indian Ocean nations is founded in which of the following years?
A. 1980
B. 1982: ANSWER
C. 1984
D. 1987
Q.4. From the following options, which of the following is the full form of SAGAR vision which was launched by the Government of India to deepen economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbours?
A. Standard Growth for all in the region
B. Secured and Gradual attempt in the region
C. Security and Growth for All in the Region: ANSWER
D. None of the above
Q.5 Which of the following ministries are involved in the 'Mission Sagar'?
A. Ministry of Defence
B. Ministry of External Affairs
C. Ministry of Home affairs
D. Both A & B: ANSWER
