India Enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness

Photo: John L. Beeman

India recently signed "white shipping" agreements with different countries for reciprocal exchange of information on merchant vessels in an attempt to bolster its Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).

The Indian Defence Ministry has said in a statement that the move will help the South Asian country tackle threats emanating from the sea. "Of the 29 countries and three multi-national constructs identified for the purpose, white shipping agreements have already been inked with 10-11 till now. The main focus is on our primary area of geopolitical interest stretching from Africa's east coast to beyond the Malacca Strait," added the ministry.

According to the ministry sources, India is developing "a holistic operational picture" of the seas around it, as there are several busy shipping lanes around the country (in the Indian Ocean Region or IOR). A senior...