Visakhapatnam, June 14 (Reporter) Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday visited the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) here on Friday and reviewed the operational readiness of the Indian Navy. He embarked on INS Jalashwa for a ‘Day at Sea’. It was Rajnath’s first outstation visit after assuming charge as Raksha Mantri for the second consecutive term. During the ‘Day at Sea’, accompanied by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, the Defence Minister witnessed the dynamic operations by various ships, submarine and aircraft of the Command, showcasing the combat capability and preparedness of the Indian Navy. Interacting with the officers and sailors of the Eastern Fleet, Rajnath commended the Indian Navy for being operationally ready, and emerging as the first responder in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). “Our Navy ensures that no nation suppresses another in the Indo-Pacific region or endangers its strategic autonomy on the basis of economic strength or military power. This is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) wherein our friendly countries in the region remain safe and move forward together on the path of mutual progress,” he said. Singh credited the Indian Navy for playing a crucial role in the country’s growth and raising its stature on the international stage. He made special mention of the Navy’s daring rescue operation in the Arabian Sea in March 2024, when it freed 23 Pakistani nationals from Somali pirates. This operation, Rajnath said, was a demonstration of humanity as well as the values imbibed in the Naval personnel, who come to the aid of everyone, irrespective of their nationality. “Securing free navigation, rule-based world order, anti-piracy and peace & stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) are top priorities”, he said ‘Focus will be on further strengthening maritime security & making Navy’s presence more effective & robust”. India, with its increasing power, is committed to making the region as well as the entire world peaceful and prosperous,” Rajnath said Navy ensures that no nation endangers strategic autonomy of another in Indo-Pacific region on the basis of economic strength or military power. Highlighting the Navy’s growing strength which is ensuring the security of India’s maritime borders, he also underlined the fact that India’s commercial interests are linked with the IOR, and the Navy is a means of securing the maritime borders while achieving the wider national objectives. The Defence Minister said national interest is of paramount importance to the Government, assuring that all possible steps will be taken to safeguard them...////...