Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Calls for Joint Maritime Protocols with Sri Lanka in IOR

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed senior military leadership at the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence in Colombo, emphasizing that secure sea lanes, freedom of navigation, and adherence to international law are paramount for the collective security and economic prosperity of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The address was part of an official bilateral visit aimed at deepening maritime cooperation between the two neighbouring nations. Speaking to a delegation that included Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara and the commanders of the Sri Lankan Army, Navy, and Air Force, Minister Singh underscored that national security and economic growth are intrinsically connected to regional dynamics. He stressed that neither nation could afford to remain indifferent to evolving strategic shifts in the surrounding maritime domain. The Defence Minister proposed establishing operational joint protocols, enhancing skill-sharing initiatives, and coordinating maritime surveillance to prevent emerging security threats before they jeopardize regional peace. Reiterating India's policy of 'Vishwa Mitra' (global friend), Minister Singh affirmed New Delhi's commitment to playing a dependable and constructive role in the immediate neighborhood. The meeting focused on expanding joint military exercises, defense technology exchanges, and capacity-building programs between India and Sri Lanka.