The Indian Navy's rescue of a commercial ship from pirates off the coast of Somalia last weekend shows how Delhi's military has developed special forces capabilities on par with some of the best in the world, analysts say.
The Navy rescued 17 crew members from the ship MV Ruen during an anti-piracy operation that lasted nearly two days, according to an Indian Navy press release, with no reports of casualties. Dozens of pirates were taken into custody, he said.
The operation involved a Navy destroyer, a patrol ship, an Indian Air Force C-17 carrier flying more than 2,400 kilometers to drop maritime commandos, a naval drone, a reconnaissance drone and a P-8 surveillance jet, said the communicated.
“The success of the operation marks the Indian Navy as a first-class force in terms of training, command and control and other capabilities,” said John Bradford, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and International Affairs.
“What makes this operation impressive is how risk was minimized through the use of a coordinated force that includes the use of a warship, drones, fixed and rotary wing aircraft and naval commandos.”
Experts fear the volatile security situation in the Red Sea due to attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels on commercial shipping could tie up international forces and provide a window for Somali pirates in the neighboring Horn of Africa – posing a multibillion-dollar threat to the economy. global.
Yemen and Somalia are among the poorest nations in the region, both devastated by years of civil war.
The capture of the MV Ruen by Somali pirates in December last year marked the first successful hijacking of a ship off the country's coast since 2017.
Spanish, Japanese and Indian warships tracked the Maltese-flagged, Bulgarian-run bulk carrier as it was taken into Somali territorial waters, according to a December report from the European Union Naval Force.
But when the Ruen, now operated by a pirate crew, left Somali waters last week with the intention of committing acts of piracy on the high seas, the Indian Navy took steps to intercept it, according to a Navy statement published on social platform
The destroyer INS Kolkata, which operates in the area to help ensure international maritime security, used a ship-launched drone to confirm that the Ruen was being operated by armed pirates, the Indian statement said.
After the pirates fired at the drone, destroying it, and then at the Indian warship itself, the Kolkata responded by firing at the Ruen, disabling its steering and navigation, the statement said.
As Kolkata sought the pirates' surrender, the commandos parachuted after a 10-hour flight from India, the Air Force said on Pad X. Rafts were also launched into the ocean from the large transport for the Marines to reach Ruen.
The Indian show of force was too much for the pirates.
“Due to sustained pressure and calibrated actions by the Indian Navy over the last 40 hours, all 35 Somali pirates have surrendered,” the Navy statement said.
Bulgarian leaders, including President Rumen Radev, thanked India and its Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the operation.
“My sincere gratitude [a Modi] for the Navy's courageous action in rescuing the hijacked Bulgarian ship 'Ruen' and its crew, including 7 Bulgarian citizens,” Radev posted on X.
Analyst Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain, said the incident highlighted the professionalism of the Indian Navy and said the Delhi Navy's commando force, known as MARCOS, learned from its US and British counterparts.
“The Indian Navy itself is a highly trained and disciplined professional force,” Schuster said.
“MARCOS’ almost eight months of training follow the British SAS model. Despite a very intense selection process, only around 10% to 15% of those who enter the training graduate,” he said.
Analysts noted that the Indian Navy has experience in anti-piracy operations going back more than 20 years – and the uneasy security situation in one of the world's main shipping lanes meant they were likely to be called upon again.
At a press conference in January, an Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said that maritime security in the region is a priority for India.
“The ongoing activities are indeed a matter of concern and affect our economic interests,” said official spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal.
“We are constantly monitoring the situation. Our naval forces and naval vessels are committed to ensuring the safety of our commercial vessels,” Jaiswal said.
Source: CNN Brasil
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