NEW DELHI: Complementing India’s efforts to expand presence in the western Indian Ocean, a region of increasing strategic significance for global powers, the island nation of Madagascar is pitching for stronger defence ties with India saying the latter provides a security umbrella to countries in the region.
In Bengaluru to participate in the Indian Ocean Region conclave hosted by India, Madagascar defence minister Richard Rakotonirina told ToI in an interaction that Madagascar wanted to gain from “maritime superpower” India through joint military exercises, capacity building and establishment of a semaphore system on the coast for white shipping. He added that India’s presence was crucial for “serenity” in the region.
Excerpts:
1. Could you talk to us a bit about the significance of Madagascar’s participation in the IOR conclave hosted by India?
A. This visit in India is a response to the invitation of the Indian government to visit Aero India expo and it was also an occasion to participate in the Conclave of Ministers of Defence of Indian Ocean Region organised by the Ministry of Defence of India. The objective of this conclave was to harmonise the views of neighbouring IOR countries’ defence ministers, to see together how to consolidate cooperation in the Indian Ocean, whether in the sector of defence or in humanitarian economy, blue economy, in prosperity.
2. What role do you see India playing in the Indian Ocean region, more specifically in the western Indian Ocean?
A. India is a key player in the Indian Ocean. First of all because it is a superpower in terms of demography, in terms of economy and in military power. And India is a leader in terms of regional security and economic cooperation, whether bilateral or multilateral, in the field of culture. India is now a member of the UNSC and thus represents somehow the Southern countries. We can’t Ignore that India is among the founding members of the Non Aligned Movement.
3. India and Madagascar had signed an MoU for defence cooperation. What are your expectations from India in terms of defence cooperation?
A. For Indian Ocean countries, India represent a security umbrella which maintains peace and prosperity in the area. Indeed, one MoU has been signed earlier between India and Madagascar. We would like the deepening of defence cooperation, in maritime sector specifically through transfer of Indian expertise to Malagasy national Navy. We want to consolidate defence cooperation through the setting up of a semaphore system on the coasts of Madagascar, through white shipping (agreement). All that requires the creation of a Malagasy-Indian joint commission. Madagascar specially expects (to gain) from India through capacity building, through joint military exercise. India is a maritime superpower in the region, its presence is critical to the serenity of this region.