Defence leadership urged naval commanders to maintain combat readiness, strengthen maritime surveillance and boost technology absorption amid West Asia tensions.
India’s senior defence leadership has urged naval commanders to maintain a high degree of combat readiness and strengthen maritime surveillance, underscoring the Navy’s role in safeguarding energy security amid the situation in West Asia.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. N.S. Raja Subramani, Army Chief Gen. Dhiraj Seth and Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan addressed sessions at the second edition of the Naval Commanders’ Conference 2026. The conference is being held from September 29 to October 1 at Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi.
Singh highlighted India’s “growing strategic responsibilities” in the maritime domain and the Navy’s role as a first responder and “preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region”, a Navy spokesperson said.
He stressed the need to strengthen maritime surveillance, analytical capabilities and operational responsiveness.
Referring to West Asia, the minister highlighted the Navy-led Operation Urja Suraksha and its contribution to safeguarding India’s energy security.
He also emphasised “aatmanirbharta”, indigenous capability development and technology absorption, saying that “secure seas are integral to a secure nation and a developed nation”.
The three-day conference brings together the Navy’s senior leadership, including operational and area commanders, to discuss operational preparedness, maritime security and future capability development.
In his inaugural address, Admiral Swaminathan reviewed the maritime security environment and the Navy’s operational posture. He stressed the need to maintain a “high degree of combat readiness, agility and responsiveness” while accelerating technology absorption and capability development to address existing and emerging challenges.
Gen. Subramani described the Navy as a “strategic force multiplier” and commended its efforts towards technology absorption, self-reliance and energy security.
Highlighting the changing character of warfare, he called for faster technological transformation, seamless data sharing, greater resilience and sustained operational capability, supported by closer integration among the services.
Gen. Seth also interacted with naval commanders and shared his assessment of the contemporary security environment.
The discussions emphasised stronger tri-service coordination, interoperability and integrated responses to emerging threats. They also highlighted the need to exchange operational lessons to improve joint preparedness, the spokesperson said.
The engagements with the CDS and Army Chief enabled naval commanders to exchange views on the evolving character of warfare, capability development and the growing importance of integrated operations.
During the remaining sessions, the commanders will discuss operations, materiel, logistics, human resources, training, force development and the induction of emerging technologies.
Measures to optimise force levels, strengthen combat readiness and accelerate capability development will also be reviewed, the spokesperson added.
